Despite the attention garnered, banditry in Nigeria appears to be growing deadlier. These gangs, which initially only targeted rural areas, have significantly increased their operations to include major cities, interstates, and infrastructure.
Christopher D. Merrett, longtime director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University, has been named dean of innovation and economic development, as well as special adviser to the president for innovation, at WIU.