Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has argued that the economic conditions in parts of the Sahel contribute to cross-border insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking in a video posted by Nevon HQ on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Adebayo said armed groups operating in countries such as Mali, Niger, and Chad often cross into Nigeria because they find more prosperous communities to target.
“If you are in Mali, Niger or Chad, you can travel for hundreds of kilometers without any prosperous community to raid, but if you come into Nigeria, you start to see prosperous towns,” he said.
Adebayo claimed that kidnappings and extortion in Nigeria generate funds that are often taken back across the border to sustain criminal activities in the region.
He said tackling the problem requires stronger border security powered by modern technology rather than relying solely on physical barriers. Adebayo added that Nigerian universities have the capacity to develop such technologies if adequately funded, while stressing that addressing internal complicity within the security system is also essential to combating insecurity.
