Sokoto moves to provide legal muscle for fight against banditry, related crimes
Sokoto moves to provide legal muscle for fight against banditry, related crimes
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has taken a major step forward in the fight against banditry and related crimes with the convening of a crucial public hearing and stakeholders’ meeting on the Executive Bill aimed at tackling the menace across the state.
The public hearing, held on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, was organised by the Joint Committee on Security Matters and Judiciary, Justice and Human Rights.
The meeting was led by Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad Randa and Co-Chairman, Hon. Saidu N. Ibrahim, and brought together key leaders and security agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, Hisbah, Sultanate Council and the Human Rights Commission.
Speaking at the hearing, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Hon. Muhammad Nasir Binji, highlighted that the new bill, H.A. 3 of 2026, introduces strict legal provisions missing in the existing Penal Code, thereby closing legal loopholes exploited in the fight against banditry.
He explained that under the proposed law, acting as an informant, training bandits, aiding and abetting banditry, and cattle rustling will attract severe legal penalties.
The bill also establishes new institutions and security infrastructure to strengthen the fight, including a Counter-Banditry Trust Fund, a Counter-Banditry Committee and a Counter-Banditry Information and Surveillance Centre.
In their submissions, the Police urged that informants be treated with the exact same severity as bandits themselves, and stressed the need to cut off all logistics supply chains to bandits.
The DSS called for the swift passage of the bill into law to empower security operations immediately.
The Sultanate Council emphasised the vital need to protect patriotic citizens who provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.
The Human Rights Commission raised concerns regarding extra-judicial killings, with the Attorney General reassuring that fair process and constitutional rights remain strictly guarded under the law.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that with the passage of the bill, Sokoto State is taking decisive action to restore peace and security for all citizens.
