Impact of Rural Banditry on Human Security in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The paper employed content analysis from qualitative sources of data. the analysis indicated that, unemployment having the highest percentage of (44%) is identified as the most significant driver of rural banditry, implying economic hardship and lack of livelihood options are major catalysts, while ethno-religious conflict conflicts have (23%) which also plays a large role, reflecting the tension and violence stemming from identity-based divisions. In another vein, greed has been regarded as another causes of rural banditry which indicates (18%), suggest that some individuals engage in banditry primarily for financial gain, independence of social or economic pressures. Robbery and insecurity each having (5.9%), this highlights the opportunistic and lawlessness environment that enables banditry. The article founds that, the impact of rural banditry on human security that led to cattle rustling and armed banditry in northern Nigeria, as well as to analyze the nature and dynamics of the phenomena and how that has further affected the relationship of the duo inclusive the downstream economy. The paper recommends that, there is a need of the development of grassroots policing, community policing enriched by local personnel and intelligence in order to protect the lives and properties of the rural dwellers. The way forward, then, is the development of grassroots policing or Community Policing, enriched by local personnel and intelligence to collaborate with security personnel in order to tame the menace of insecurity at the community level.