If Buhari has been arresting and prosecuting rogue herdsmen and the various camera-loving spokespersons who give legitimacy to their criminal activities,groups like ESN and Sunday Igboho won't rise up to fill the security vacuum with their own agenda.Again,failure of leadership

You can't trivialise the destruction of the livelihood of residents in a region by stateless rampaging herdsmen and expect everyone to just keep quiet.

Of course some other non state actors sympathetic to that region will rise to fill the vacuum, to "protect their people."

And the situation gets further exacerbated by security forces sent to that region to bring peace/calm. They end up harassing/killing civilians, thereby making them more sympathetic to the cause of the non-state actors. Ripple effect of failing to address the underlying issues

Anyway, the legitimacy of the Nigerian government over its vast territory comes from its ability to exert control on its territory.

We've seen that control get eroded in the North East, in parts of the North West ravaged by "bandits" with the Nigerian security forces stretched.

How long before others start realizing that the government doesn't have the monopoly on violence?

The borders are so porous, anyone can get arms, recruit, shoot back at security forces.

Can Nigeria afford to lose more territories to non-state actors who are ready for violence?

Point is this: trivialising the security challenges in the South and sending reactionary forces to quell unrest when non-state actors spring up only serves to exacerbate the situation.

There are fundamental issues that need to be address. And MUST be addressed ASAP

Open grazing must stop. It is an archaic practise that threatens the livelihood of others and makes mockery of the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Create grazing reserves.

Buhari must show good faith by arresting and prosecuting rogue herdsmen and their enablers.

If people feel secure in their homes and farmlands, they won't have any reason to listen to ESN or Nnamdi Kanu or Sunday Igboho.

If these reactionary, high-handed tactics continue, the degeneration of Nigeria into another Somalia is a matter of when and not If.