In the past few weeks, Nigeria’s Zamfara state has seen a brutal escalation of the so-called “bandit war” that has been ongoing since 2011. Zamfara, a relatively poor part of Nigeria, is an isolated part of the country. According to Aljazeera, weak government control of the area over the last few decades has led to a situation where tensions between the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups have escalated to the point where mass kidnappings, killings, and looting of villages have become routine.

Scholars from The International Crisis Group say that the background of the violence most likely originates in the conflict between herder groups and farmer groups. Further catalysis of the violence stems from environmental and economic factors. Environmental issues include scarcity of key natural resources such as arable land and water. Lack of government investment in education, business, and infrastructure is particularly acute in Zamfara state.

As reported by the BBC, the combination of vital resources and government crackdowns lead to further recruitment of bandits, which lead to more atrocities being committed. Bandit groups justify their violence in that they claimed they have been severely neglected by their own government, according to an Aljazeera reporter who was granted access to one of the camps. They say that they are left with no choice but to turn violent when their government does nothing to preserve their herding way of life and gives them no opportunity for education and economic activities. However, given the massacres they have committed, scholars believe it could suggest other deeply rooted problems.

Another part of the problem stems from the smuggling of heavy weaponry in Nigeria. It is relatively easy because the Nigerian government’s forces spread thinly in the country. This allows the bandits to hold their own against the military, destroying aircraft and armored vehicles. While it appears that there is no end to the violence in Zamfara, new attention to the armed struggle could draw in the world to recognize the importance of the ongoing conflict.