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The media’s use of the term 'bandit' is used to describe the clearly disparate groups that occupy overlapping territories across multiple Nigerian states, each engaging in varying levels of crime from petty theft to terrorist tactics. Operating mainly in northwestern Nigerian States, the country's security forces have been largely unsuccessful in stopping bandit attacks. No less than 80 bandit groups operate out of Northwest Nigeria and it should be assumed that there are at least 80 corresponding leaders of various strengths for each bandit group. Understanding the nature of ‘Bandits’ is the first step, as they are not homogenous and can originate from the Fulani Herdsman ethno-nationalists to the bands that are just after blood and treasure, and as such, TRAC finds traits that individualize and identify the ‘Bandits’.
On 17 April 2022, a video message circulated on social media attributed to Bandit Kingpin, Nasanda, pictured above. Nasanda, with an extortionist "revenge" message warned that 300 people will be murdered in 14 days if ₦30m (equating to more than $72,000 USD) in "taxes" are not paid by the state government in retribution for his wife's death. Nasanda clearly wants to cause mass hysteria without pinpointing exactly where he would strike, insinuating that anyone out of the residents of Zamfara could be targeted and only allowing 14 days to demand this kind of money it is unlikely that Zamfara State will meet his demands even if they had the will to do so.
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