A new policy analysis has warned that Nigeria’s escalating banditry crisis is gradually weakening the country’s state structure, as insecurity fuels declining public trust and strengthens the influence of non-state armed groups.

Following the warning, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, criticised President Bola Tinubu, highlighting what he describes as leadership failure.

Similarly, former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, charges the President to end the hollow rhetoric, urging the Federal Government to take more decisive steps to address insecurity.

The report, authored by Joshua Odey and Ndu Nwokolo of a public policy research group, Nextier, and released yesterday, noted that what began as a localised security challenge had evolved into a nationwide threat.

“Banditry is evolving into a self-reinforcing cycle driven by state fragility, weakening public trust, and the growing influence of non-state armed groups,” it said, adding that the crisis, which was initially concentrated in the North-West, spread to parts of the North-Central and North-East, affecting states such as Niger, Benue, Plateau and Taraba.

Providing data from its 2026 security outlook, Nextier stated that Nigeria recorded 599 banditry incidents in 2025, resulting in 2,742 casualties.

“This marks a sharp rise from 256 incidents and 1,585 casualties in 2024, representing a 134 per cent increase in attacks and a 74 per cent rise in deaths,” the report said.
IN a statement shared on X yesterday, Obi recalled the President’s recent assurance to victims in Jos that such violence would not recur.

“‘This experience will not repeat itself’—another presidential promise fails in less than 24 hours,” he wrote.

The former governor of Anambra State noted that shortly after Tinubu visited victims in Jos on April 2 and pledged that such attacks would be prevented in the future, a fresh attack reportedly occurred in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area, resulting in further casualties.

He further highlighted the insecurity that spread to other parts of the country, citing incidents in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Borno, Benue and Kaduna states.

Obi noted that the government’s primary duty to protect lives and property is not being fulfilled.

ATIKU, in a post via his official X handle yesterday, expressed concern that recent violent incidents appear to contradict assurances earlier given by the President following the AngwanRukuba attack.

“I wish to remind President Tinubu to keep to his words that ‘this (AngwanRukuba attack) will not repeat itself.’

“It does appear that those words are hollow because barely 72 hours later, another attack in Benue claimed over a dozen lives. The Commander-in-Chief should brace up to the challenges of governance.”

The former presidential candidate also raised the alarm over developments in a community in Nasarawa State, where residents reportedly fled their homes for fears of further attacks.

Calling for urgent action, Atiku urged the President to move beyond rhetoric.

“Enough of this hollow rhetoric, Mr President. It is time to fold your sleeves and get to work,” he said.

He also extended condolences to the victims of the attacks.