Public commentator Mahdi Shehu has said that Nigeria’s deepening insecurity is not caused by one tribe or religion, but by people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds who play various roles in the crisis.
Shehu made the comments in a post shared on X on Sunday, where he listed examples from across the country to argue that criminality in Nigeria cuts across regions, tribes and faiths.
According to him, it is wrong for any section of the country to claim innocence when the security situation continues to worsen.
He argued that different security threats across the country involve individuals from diverse backgrounds.
According to him, many Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa come from Kanuri and Shuwa communities.
He also claimed that ISWAP cells operating around Kogi, Kwara and Ondo reportedly include a significant number of people from the Egbira ethnic group.
He further alleged that some of the informants working with bandits in the Northwest are Hausa, while several of the bandit leaders and fighters are drawn from Fulani communities.
“Some individuals from the Berom ethnic group in Plateau are involved in the production and distribution of locally–made weapons used by criminal networks.”
He also pointed to other examples across the country. He claimed that the leader of the Mahmudawa group operating in parts of Kwara State is Abba Abubakar, whom he described as a Hausa man from Daura in Katsina State.
He referred to a statement credited to Governor Charles Soludo, saying that a large share of those involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual activities and other violent crimes in the South-East are people of Igbo background.
“Some non-state actors behind kidnapping, crude-oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta come from Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri communities.
“Criminal activities such as kidnapping and ritual-related offences in the South-West involve individuals from within Yoruba communities, regardless of whether they are Christians, Muslims or traditionalists.
“Some of the banditry and violent incidents recorded in Benue and Taraba have been linked to individuals from Tiv and Fulani backgrounds.
“A number of people involved in the operation of illegal baby factories and child-trafficking networks are drawn from Igbo communities, including both Christians and traditional worshippers,” Shehu alleged.
He went on to make additional claims about criminal activities across the country.
According to him, people from both Christian and Muslim communities in Edo State, as well as some individuals from the South-East, are involved in various cyber-fraud schemes.
He also alleged that a significant share of those linked to illegal drug trafficking networks are individuals of Igbo background.
He further claimed that some people involved in phone-snatching and related attacks in states like Kaduna, Kano and Katsina come from Hausa communities.
At the same time, he noted that offences such as bank fraud are committed by people from virtually every tribe and religious background.
He argued that forgery of academic and official documents is also widespread and not limited to any group.
