Why US Strikes Target ISWAP and Lukarawa Instead of Nigeria’s Bandit Networks

Bandit attacks and kidnappings have caused severe civilian losses across Nigeria, including recent deadly incidents in Kwara State. The relocation of the NYSC camp from Edu LGA to Ilorin also reflects the growing security concerns in the area. The US reportedly focused its operations on ISWAP in Borno and Lukarawa in Sokoto, rather than armed bandit groups operating in the North-West and parts of the Middle Belt. ISWAP often targets security formations, while bandits and violent herder groups are widely blamed for attacks on rural communities. This raises a serious question: why are international counterterrorism efforts not giving equal attention to the groups accused of carrying out frequent kidnappings and mass killings of civilians? The claim that sponsors of banditry deliberately redirected US attention requires credible evidence.

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