The banditry induced conflict in northern Nigeria, which is an off-shoot of the country’s endemic farmer-herder crisis, has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of many others. In 2021 alone, bandits who constituted over 30,000 in number, were responsible for the deaths of over 2,600 people and the displacement of at least 1 million people across the troubled northwest region. There is an emerging literature on the nefarious activities of these groups which are manifested through kidnappings for ransom, thefts, cattle rustling, and sexual violence.

This edited book offers a nuanced contribution to the literature, which foregrounds the need to draw attention to this all-important issue through empirically grounded inquiry.

The event will be chaired by Dr Clement Sefa-Nyarko and Dr Folahanmi Aina will be joining as a speaker. Please note that this event will be online.

About the speaker

Dr Folahanmi Aina

Dr Aina is a Political Scientist and international security analyst. He is currently a lecturer in the Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development, Department of Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, United Kingdom. He completed a second master’s degree in African studies, at the University of Oxford, having earlier obtained a Masters’ degree in International Development Policy from Seoul National University, South Korea. He holds a doctorate degree in Leadership Studies, with reference to security and development from King’s College London, United Kingdom.

His research interests include peace, security and development; leadership in national security policy decision making, military operations, international security, grand strategy, terrorism, insurgency, and extremism, with a regional focus on West Africa’s Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions and coastal West African states.

A recipient of multiple awards, including the prestigious General Lamine Cissé Young Researcher Award by Partners West Africa/Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, and the Hans. J Morgenthau Fellowship on Grand Strategy, awarded by the Notre Dame International Security Centre, University of Notre Dame. He is an alumnus of the Summer Workshop on the Analysis of Military Strategy and Operations (SWAMOS) organised by Columbia University, New York, U.S.A. His works have been published in several reputable international peer reviewed journals such as African Security, Armed Forces & Society, Applied Security Research, and Democracy and Security amongst others.