Idris4Peace

  The series of attacks on schools, commuters, and communities in northwestern Nigeria has left families with traumatic experiences, displaced thousands of people from their homes and caused a deterioration of socio-economic activities, particularly in hinterland areas. For a region with a high rate of out-of-school children, northwestern Nigeria is facing increasing risks of further education deficits and low school enrollment due to attacks by armed banditry groups. In June, UNICEF reported that more than 13 million Nigerian children are not enrolled in school, which is more than anywhere else in the world ( Guardian.ng , June 22). Around eight million of those children are located in northern Nigerian states, where banditry-related and other Boko Haram terrorist attacks persist. The state of Zamfara is the nucleus of armed bandits operating in northwestern Nigeria. The state’s governor, Bello Matawalle, estimates there are over 30,000 armed bandits operating in forests in Zamfara an

  The crisis of armed banditry and other violations in the North West of Nigeria should be addressed with traditional justice mechanisms within the framework of transitional justice, writes Idris Mohammed. The North West region of Nigeria has faced serious internal security challenges, ranging from cattle rustling and farmer–herder clashes to kidnapping and armed banditry, which have been exacerbated by illegal mining. A region that was largely peaceful until now faces complete insurrection. Drawing on past experiences of resolving conflict, traditional justice mechanisms within a transitional justice framework can provide holistic justice for victims while addressing community divisions. Zamfara state, with its motto “Farming is Our Pride,”used to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. The introduction of sharia law in 1999 did not undermine its stability. Even the post-election violence of 2007 and 2011 that rocked almost the entire northern region did not affect the state. Y