Nigeria's Endless Cycle of Violence: Who Profits?
THE ACTORS: A CONSTELLATION OF INTERESTS The immediate perpetrators in Woro are described as 'bandits' or 'armed men.' However, this generic label obscures a complex tapestry of groups, some with clear ethnic and religious affiliations (often Fulani herders vs. settled farming communities), others acting purely as criminal enterprises. Beyond the local actors, the Nigerian military and police
forces are consistently criticized for their slow response, alleged complicity, or outright ineffectiveness, leading to accusations of selective engagement (Amnesty International, 2022). Their failure to protect villagers, despite repeated warnings and prior attacks in the region, is a critical component of the ongoing crisis. THE FUNDING: CASH, CATTLE, AND CONCESSIONS These armed groups are not
self-sustaining on ideology alone. Their operations are financed through cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom (a thriving industry, generating estimated tens of millions of dollars annually, UNODC 2021), and illicit mining. More subtly, some analysts point to political patronage, where desperate politicians fund local strongmen for electoral gains, only for these groups to become autonomous and
more destructive later. Furthermore, the porous borders and the availability of sophisticated weaponry suggest external supply chains, often linked to regional conflicts and trans-Sahelian illicit networks, raising questions about where these weapons originate and who is facilitating their flow into Nigeria. THE INCENTIVES: LAND, LOOT, AND LEGITIMACY For the 'bandits,' the incentive is clear: land