Maroof Asudemade
One of the most disturbing developments in recent times is not the activities of bandits themselves, but the willingness of some Nigerians to openly associate with them for financial gain.

I have always maintained that many people who loudly condemn corruption do so because they are not yet beneficiaries of it. Give them access to illicit wealth, and many would gladly abandon their principles. Recent events on TikTok appear to support this uncomfortable truth.

Reports of Nigerians trooping to livestreams hosted by bandits and flooding the comment sections with their account details in anticipation of monetary giveaways should alarm every patriotic citizen. These are not people being forced at gunpoint. They are voluntarily seeking to benefit from the proceeds of crime.

Bandits are not philanthropists. They are criminals who derive their wealth from kidnapping, extortion, murder, and the destruction of livelihoods. Every naira they distribute is stained with the tears of victims and the pain of families whose loved ones have been abducted or killed.

What message are we sending when citizens eagerly queue for handouts from such individuals? We are inadvertently helping to launder their image. We are allowing criminals to portray themselves as benefactors while innocent Nigerians continue to suffer from their atrocities.
Even more troubling is the possibility that such giveaways serve as recruitment tools. A young person who receives money from a bandit today may begin to admire him tomorrow. Admiration can evolve into loyalty, and loyalty can become participation. Criminal organizations throughout history have used gifts, welfare, and financial incentives to attract supporters and expand their influence.

This is why the issue goes beyond social media giveaways. It speaks to a deeper moral challenge within our society. If wealth becomes more important than the source of that wealth, then we risk creating a culture where crime is tolerated, celebrated, and eventually emulated.

Nigeria cannot win the war against banditry solely through military operations and security measures. The battle must also be fought in the minds of citizens. We must reject the normalization of criminality and refuse to glorify those who enrich themselves through violence.

A society that accepts gifts from bandits today may struggle to condemn banditry tomorrow.
The real test of our values is not how loudly we denounce criminals, but whether we are willing to reject their money when it comes our way.