Rising insecurity in northwest Nigeria: Terrorism thinly disguised as banditry

In spite of government efforts, the security situation in Nigeria is deteriorating. Indeed, the lingering conflict between herders and farmers in north-central Nigeria has been rated six times deadlier than the Boko Haram insurgency. The recent abductions of schoolboys in Kankara community, Katsina State and in Niger State are more examples of the deplorable state of security in the country. Notably, the unprecedented increase in violent attacks is defying the sustained narrative among analyststhat the northwest is relatively peaceful compared to the northeasteven though the northwest is poorer; worse governed in some areas; and has lower levels of human development.