The visit of a top Nigerian Army commander to Tidibale community in Sokoto State after recent bandit attacks is not just a military routine. It is a window into how ordinary people are forced to live under constant fear, displacement, and uncertainty in many parts of northern Nigeria. For residents of Isa Local Government Area, insecurity is no longer an occasional crisis. It has become a daily reality that shapes how they farm, sleep, and raise their children.
What Happened in Tidibale
Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, visited Tidibale after bandits attacked the community and forced many residents to flee their homes. His tour came shortly after villagers began returning, following military operations that pushed gunmen out of the area.
During the visit, the army chief assured residents that troops had been permanently deployed and that the military was committed to protecting the community. He said the goal was to restore normal life, allow people to farm safely, and ensure no part of the community remained under bandit control.
The message was clear. The military wants to show presence, confidence, and stability. But behind those assurances lies a deeper story about what life has become for rural communities caught between bandits and survival.
What Daily Life Looks Like Under Insecurity
For people in Tidibale and nearby villages, insecurity is not just about gunshots and raids. It affects every part of daily life. Farmers abandon their fields because they fear being kidnapped. Children stop going to school because roads are unsafe. Families sleep in shifts, listening for strange movements in the night.
Community leaders say farming cycles have been badly disrupted. This is devastating in a region where agriculture is the backbone of survival. When farmers cannot plant or harvest, hunger follows. When hunger grows, poverty deepens. Insecurity does not only kill people. It slowly destroys livelihoods.
Many villagers were forced to flee their homes or pay ransom to bandits. Some lost relatives. Others returned to find their houses looted or burned. Even after the army pushes bandits out, fear remains. People worry the gunmen will come back once troops move on.
Why the Army’s Visit Matters
The visit by Major General Koughna matters because it shows how much pressure is on security forces to stabilise the North-West. Banditry has become one of Nigeria’s most dangerous security threats, rivaling insurgency in the North-East.
By promising permanent troop deployment and asking residents to share intelligence, the army is trying to shift from short-term raids to long-term protection. This approach recognises that security cannot work without the community. When villagers trust the military enough to share information, attacks can be prevented before they happen.
However, many communities have heard similar promises before. What will truly matter is whether soldiers remain visible, respond quickly, and stop bandits from regrouping.
What This Reveals About Nigeria’s Security Crisis
The situation in Sokoto reveals three painful truths about daily life under insecurity in Nigeria.
First, rural communities are on the front line of violence. They suffer the most but receive the least protection. When bandits strike, help often comes late, and recovery is slow.
Second, insecurity is not only a military problem. It is a social and economic crisis. When people cannot farm, trade, or travel safely, entire regions fall deeper into poverty, creating more conditions for crime and recruitment into armed groups.
Third, trust between citizens and security agencies is fragile. Visits and speeches are important, but trust is built through consistent protection, arrests, and justice, not just reassurance.
The Bigger Picture
Tidibale is not alone. Across Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of Niger State, thousands of families live with the same fear. Bandit attacks have become part of everyday life, shaping decisions about where to live, when to move, and whether it is safe to hope for a better future.
The army’s renewed focus offers a chance to change that story. But for residents, real security will only be proven when they can farm without fear, sleep without listening for gunmen, and raise children without planning escape routes.
Until then, the Sokoto bandit attack remains a reminder that for many Nigerians, insecurity is not a headline. It is life.
