Intelligence agencies from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso say they are preparing to release the names of senior Nigerian politicians accused of sponsoring bandit groups operating across Nigeria’s troubled North-West region.
According to renowned counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama, the agencies have compiled intelligence linking certain political figures to the financing and protection of armed groups responsible for widespread kidnappings, killings, and attacks on rural communities.
Makama noted that the intelligence findings are part of a growing regional effort to dismantle cross-border criminal networks that have destabilized much of the Sahel. Bandit gangs operating in Nigeria’s Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kebbi states are believed to maintain supply lines, safe havens, and illicit trade routes extending into neighbouring Niger and beyond.
The reported plan to expose Nigerian politicians comes amid mounting pressure on Abuja to end spiraling insecurity that has devastated farming communities, displaced thousands, and crippled economic activity in one of the country’s most vulnerable zones.
Security sources say the disclosures, if confirmed, could trigger a political storm, shaking the foundations of Nigeria’s political establishment and intensifying calls for accountability at the highest levels.
Regional governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — which have faced their own battles against Islamist militants and armed criminal groups — are increasingly cooperating on intelligence sharing and joint security initiatives. Analysts say the decision to point fingers at Nigerian politicians signals growing frustration with the alleged complicity of elites in sustaining instability for personal or political gain.
While the names of the alleged sponsors have not yet been revealed, the looming disclosure is already generating intense speculation and unease in Nigeria’s political circles. Authorities in Abuja have not issued an official response.
If verified, the revelations could mark a turning point in the fight against banditry, exposing the hidden hands behind years of violence and offering victims a path toward justice.