Assessing the Crime Control and Regional Security Responses: An Analytical Study of Operation Fagge Yamma, Nigeria

Abstract

This study provides an analytical assessment of Operation Fagge Yamma, the joint military task force mandated to  address escalating banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism in North-West Nigeria. The research employed a descriptive survey approach, utilizing a mixed-method design to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. A clustered/ stratified sampling technique was used to administer 983 questionnaires and conduct interviews with a diverse population comprising Operation Fagge Yamma personnel, state-sponsored vigilance groups, community leaders, and general residents across purposively selected high-impact Local Government Areas in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna States. The findings reveal a significant paradox: while the operation has achieved notable kinetic success in reducing the frequency of large-scale bandit attacks and kidnapping (RQ1), its overall effectiveness and long-term sustainability are severely undermined by critical systemic failures. These include a profound lack of inter-agency coordination and “turf wars” (RQ2), a persistent trust deficit with local communities driven by a lack of consultation,  and perceptions of unprofessionalism and slow emergency response. The study concludes that while Operation
Fagge Yamma is a necessary component of the regional security architecture, it cannot succeed as a purely kinetic, top-down intervention. It recommends a fundamental shift toward an integrated hybrid security model that formally mandates intelligence sharing and empowers state vigilance groups as partners to rebuild civil-military relations.