A well-known security and intelligence analyst, Yahuza Getso, has sparked fresh debate after declaring that almost all bandits terrorizing Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions are homegrown criminals—not foreign elements as often claimed. He made the statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, urging authorities to stop pretending not to know where these groups operate.
Getso stated plainly that “99.9% of the bandits operating in North-West and North-Central Nigeria are Nigerians. We know them, we know who they are, we know where they are. They are not in any hideout or any difficult terrain.” His bold comments have further fueled public frustration as insecurity continues to escalate in several northern states.
His remarks came at a time the country was reeling from two devastating security incidents that reignited national anger and fear.
The first was the kidnapping of 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. The attack happened around 4 a.m. on Monday when armed men stormed the school, killing the vice principal before dragging the students away. Residents said they were already uneasy after hearing gunshots and reports of attacks in nearby communities the previous day, yet the criminals still struck with little resistance—deepening concerns over poor security preparedness.
The second incident involved the tragic death of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State. Initially, the Nigerian Army reported that the senior officer was safe following an ambush along the Damboa–Biu road. However, ISWAP later released images claiming responsibility for capturing and killing him, forcing a painful reversal of earlier military statements.
Both events have placed renewed pressure on Nigeria’s security agencies and raised urgent questions about the country’s counterterrorism strategy. Analysts warn that bandits and insurgents appear to be growing more coordinated and fearless, carrying out attacks that continue to expose weaknesses in surveillance, intelligence sharing, and rapid response.
With Getso’s claims now circulating widely, many citizens are demanding a more transparent and aggressive approach to tackling insecurity—one that confronts the crisis without political excuses or shifting blame to foreign actors
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