BANDITRY, COERCION, AND THE SHADOW ECONOMY: THE SOCIO-CRIMINOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF FORCED TAXATION IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
Garba, Mbave Joshua , Noel, Nathaniel Anthony , Kwena, Tingyang Andeyangso , Wanapia, Nuhsodah Iliya and Ibrahim, Asabe
Volume 12 Issue 1
Abstract
Bandit-led taxation has emerged as a critical feature of the criminal economy in Nigeria and other fragile states, where non-state actors impose levies on vulnerable communities in the absence of effective state governance. This paper examined how bandits enforce taxation through coercion, mirroring patterns of criminal governance seen in other conflict-prone regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. Drawing on secondary data and theoretical frameworks on state fragility, shadow economies, and coercive power, this paper argues that bandit taxation is not an isolated criminal act but a structural response to weak state institutions. Findings reveal that in regions like Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, bandits impose levies on farmers, traders, and transporters, effectively controlling local economies. The study underscores the need to understand bandit taxation as an alternative form of governance, necessitating holistic policy interventions that address governance failures, economic vulnerabilities, and security challenges. Keywords: Bandit taxation, Coercion, Criminal economy, Informal governance, Nigeria, Organized crime, Shadow economy, State fragility, Taxation enforcement, Vulnerable communities.
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