The Convener of the Police Integrity Movement, Isaiah Davies Ijele, has called for a more aggressive military response to banditry, urging Nigerian security forces to enter forest hideouts and confront kidnappers directly to dismantle criminal networks.
Speaking on Arise News on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Ijele argued that defeating banditry would require security personnel to accept operational risks and sustain pressure on armed groups until kidnapping is no longer a viable criminal enterprise.
To illustrate his point, he recounted a scene from a comedy film in which a man refused to negotiate after his wife was kidnapped.
“His wife was kidnapped, he told them, ‘Keep her, I’m not interested.’ They were surprised. They called again, and he said, ‘Keep her,'” Ijele said.
He said the anecdote demonstrated how an uncompromising stance could unsettle criminals, arguing that prolonged negotiations often embolden kidnappers.
Ijele’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over Nigeria’s counter-banditry strategy, with growing calls from security stakeholders for stronger, combat-focused operations to curb the rising wave of kidnappings across the country.
