An Assessment of The Role of Operation Sharan Daji in Combating Rural Banditry in Northern Senatorial Zone of Zamfara State (2015-2019)

Abstract

The problem of rural banditry necessitated the establishment of Operation Sharan Daji in 2015 by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the mandate to rid Zamfara and other neighbouring states of banditry. Despite this innovative security measure, the northern senatorial zone of Zamfara state seems not to be recording a meaningful drop in the rate of banditry, hence the need for empirical verification. This study therefore, assessed the role of Operation Sharan Daji in combating rural banditry in the northern senatorial zone of Zamfara State 2015-2019. Structural functionalism theory was adopted as a theoretical framework. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to generate primary data. Findings reveal generally that despite the increase in the rate of banditry as a result of the challenges faced by Operation Sharan Daji, the operation had done its best to live up to its mandate of combating rural banditry in the northern senatorial zone of Zamfara state, as it has been assessed to be effective by the residents of the area. Hence, it is recommended that government at all levels show strong commitment by channelling more attention and resources to put an end to the menace of rural banditry.