THE IMPACT OF POVERTY ON THE RISING ACTIVITIES OF BANDITRY IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

THE IMPACT OF POVERTY ON THE RISING ACTIVITIES OF BANDITRY IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The impact of Banditry in Nigeria is felt mostly in the north eastern geo-political .While poverty remains a critical issue considered as a precipitating factor in the contentious discourse of violence and insecurity, the impact played by it in the north eastern region of Nigeria in relation to the activities of armed  Banditry remains a critical issue of discourse that this project research examines. The study adopted qualitative research design approach with the use of secondary sources of data. The  theoretical framework adopted for this study is poverty breeds conflict hypothesis and the Ted Gurr deprivation theory. The data gathered were analyzed through content analysis. The findings reveal that poverty negatively impacted on Banditry in the north eastern region as sustained conflict in the zone is known to be “both caused by and contribute to poverty”. Poverty therefore remains a major socio-economic factor that causes Banditry. The study recommended that the federal government should declare a state of emergency on poverty in the north east region of Nigeria through the implementation of a systematic poverty elevation programme aimed at improving the wellbeing of the citizenry. Government should also work towards implementing a de-radicalization of the insurgent. This will greatly help to re-integrate them into the society