Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, says porous borders, poverty, unemployment, greed and the pursuit of personal gains, were among the leading causes of the proliferation of criminal networks and insecurity.
General Buratai, who also listed absence of effective law enforcement such as the police, weak deterrence mechanisms and weak governance structures as contributory factors to organised crime, argued further that these were some of the reasons criminality has persisted in the country.
Speaking at a one-day International Conference organised by the Igbinedion University in partnership with the Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs, on Thursday in Abuja, with the theme: ‘Organised Crime Network as Emergent Threats to National Security,’ he said: “The causes of organised crime in the Sahel, particularly in Nigeria, are undoubtedly multifaceted.
“One of the primary contributory factors is the existence of porous borders, which allows for the easy movement of criminals and illegal goods across national boundaries.
“Also, prolonged conflicts in countries like Somalia, DR Congo, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and now Sudan, have a direct impact on the rise of organised crimes.
“Additionally, the prevalence of poverty and unemployment within the region creates a desperate environment that can push individuals towards criminal activities as a means of survival.
“The influence of jihadist groups in the Sahel, who exploit vulnerable populations and use violence to achieve their agendas, also plays a significant role in fueling organised crime.
“Furthermore, greed and the pursuit of personal gain contribute to the proliferation of criminal networks, as individuals are enticed by the potential financial rewards.
“Lastly, the absence of effective law enforcement (police), weak deterrence mechanisms and weak governance structures further enable criminal organisations to operate with impunity.”
While noting that “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a significant transformation in organised crime,” he added that, “One notable consequence was the exponential growth of cyber criminal activities, taking advantage of the large number of individuals compelled to operate online for work, leisure, and commerce.”