Abstract:
This study investigates the use of conversational implicature as a strategic communicative device in the criminal discourse of bandits operating in Zamfara State, Nigeria, with particular attention to the western axis where groups led by figures such as Halilu Sububu and Kàchallà Yellow operate. Drawing on Grice’s (1975) Cooperative Principle, the research examines how bandits intentionally flout conversational maxims to convey hidden meanings, assert authority, manipulate victims, and obscure their true intentions. Using a qualitative approach, data were gathered from victims, repentant bandits, vigilante groups, and communities located near bandit enclaves. The analysis reveals that bandits rely heavily on both generalised and particularised implicatures, often encoded in specialised terminologies and metaphorical expressions that are intelligible only within their criminal networks. These linguistic strategies enable bandits to issue threats, coordinate activities, maintain group cohesion, and psychologically dominate their victims. The study underscores the critical role of implicature in understanding the underlying power dynamics, communication patterns, and operational secrecy that define bandit interactions. By uncovering these pragmatic mechanisms, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of criminal communication in northern Nigeria and offers insights that may support intelligence gathering, negotiation processes, and efforts to counter banditry.
