BANDITRY IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA: EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, ARMS PROLIFERATION AND GOVERNANCE DEFICITS
Keywords:
Banditry, Youth Unemployment, Arms Proliferation, Governance Deficit, Human Security, North-West Nigeria.Abstract
Banditry has emerged as a persistent security challenge in North-West Nigeria, threatening human security, weakening governance structures, and hindering socio-economic development. This study examines the underlying drivers of banditry, focusing on youth unemployment, small arms proliferation, and governance deficits. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, with data collected from 420 respondents across Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto States using stratified random sampling. The findings indicate that youth unemployment significantly increases vulnerability to recruitment into bandit groups, while the widespread availability of small arms enhances the operational strength of these groups. In addition, weak governance structures were found to contribute substantially to the persistence of insecurity in the region. Overall, the results show that banditry is not caused by a single factor but is driven by the interaction of socio-economic hardship, the availability of weapons, and institutional weaknesses. The study concludes that addressing banditry requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. It recommends policies aimed at creating employment opportunities for youths, strengthening arms control measures, and improving governance systems to effectively tackle the root causes of insecurity in North-West Nigeria.References
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