Effect of Banditry on Farming System in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The general focus of this study is to examine the effect of banditry on farming system in Nigeria. Specifically it will
- Examine the different forms of banditry attacks on farming communities
- Determine the extent at which banditry affects farming system in Nigeria
- Investigate the implication of banditry attacks on farming practices
- Determine if affected farming system can lead to scarcity and increase of price of food items.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Banditry
Conceptually, banditry is a derivative of the term bandit meaning an unlawful armed group terrorising people and confiscating their properties. It is synonymous with the establishment of gang groups who use small and light weapons to carry out attacks against people. In this regard, banditry could mean a set-up criminal activity deliberately designed and carried out for personal gains. Due to the complex nature of bandits’ activities, Egwu (2016) in a restricted manner, described banditry as a practice of stealing cattle and animals from herders or raiding of cattle from their ranches. In the same vein, banditry is reflected in criminal escapades like cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug abuse, arson, rape and the brazen and gruesome massacre of people of agrarian communities with sophisticated weapons by suspected herdsmen and reprisal attacks from surviving victims, a development that has been brought to the front burner of national security (Uche & Iwuamadi, 2018). In his perception, Shalangwa (2013) regards banditry as the practice of raiding and attacking victims by members of an armed group, whether or not premeditated, using weapons of offence or defense, especially in semi-organised groups for the purpose of overpowering the victim and obtaining loot or achieving some political goals. Such bandits are usually perceived as outlaws, desperate and lawless marauders who do not have a definite residence or destination but roam around the forest and mountains to avoid being identified, detected and arrested. However, where the term banditry is connected to rural, it implies a group of rural outlawed involved in illicit activities such as raiding of villages, kidnappings and cattle rustling for primitive accumulation of wealth. Thus, bandits are gang groups terrorising and dispossessing local people or travellers of their valuable items or properties such as merchandise, money, cattle, camel, and sheep, among others. They operate within and along rural borders with the assistance of their local collaborators including in some cases, state agents deployed to work for the safety and security of the people (Abdullahi, 2019).
In another sense, banditry refers to the incidences of armed robbery or allied violent crimes, such as kidnapping, cattle rustling, and village or market raids. It involves the use of force, or threat to that effect, to intimidate a person or a group of persons in order to rob, rape or kill (Okoli & Okpaleke 2014). Economic or political interests motivate banditry. The former refers to banditries motivated by the imperative of material accumulation while the latter has to do with those driven by the quest to rob, to assault or to liquidate a person or a group of persons based on political or ideological dispositions (Okoli & Ugwu, 2019). Thus banditry, in the context of this paper, is defined as the totality of incidences of armed robbery or allied violent crimes, such as kidnapping, cattle rustling, village raids as well as highway raids which involves the use of force, or threat to that effect, to intimidate a person or a group of persons in order to rob, rape, kidnap or kill the victims
Understanding the Concept of Security and Insecurity
The term security has not till date been accorded a universal conceptual outlook due to the fact that it has been considered from different perspectives. Some scholars like Igbuzor (2011) and Oche (2001) while conceptualising security placed emphasis on the absence of threats to peace, stability, national cohesion, political and socio-economic objectives of a country. It is conceived as to be secure and free from both fear of physical, psychological abuse, violence, persecution, or death and from want such as food, health and good job (Asmau & Abdulrasheed, 2020). Also, Omede (2012) sees security as a dynamic condition which involves the relative ability of a state to counter threats to its core values and interests. Security can further be described as stability and continuity of livelihood (stable and steady income), predictability of daily life (knowing what to expect), protection from crime (feeling safe), and freedom from psychological harm (safety or protection from emotional stress which results from the assurance or knowing that one is wanted, accepted, loved and protected in one‟s community or neighbourhood and by people around (Nwanegbo & Odigbo, 2013).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Effect of banditry on farming system in Nigeria. Konshisha Local Government in Benue State forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain effect of banditry on farming system in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Institutional development as a challenge to effect of banditry on farming system in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on effect of banditry on farming system in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included; Examine the different forms of banditry attacks on farming communities, determine the extent at which banditry affects farming system in Nigeria, investigate the implication of banditry attacks on farming practices and determine if affected farming system can lead to scarcity and increase of price of food items. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Konshisha Local Government in Benue State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
In Nigeria, various forms of insecurity such as insurgency and banditry have negative impacts on food security in the country One of the most recent was the fatal attacks by bandit on farmers. This attack portends danger to food security as many farmers are very scared to go to their farms to engage in irrigation farming among other food producing activities. Banditry, particularly in the Konshisha Local Government in Benue State has also negatively impacted food security in states such as Benue state. The implications of the impacts means that there is reduction in the number of farmers due to their killings, there is impoverishment of farmers due to kidnappings, farmers are not willing to go to their farmlands as they will be chased out, cattle rearing has become difficult, there is reduction in the quantity of crops stored in grain silos, there are risks of attacks when farmers visit local weekly markets and many farmers have become dependent on food provided either at IDP camps or at the houses of friends and relatives. These clearly indicate the negative impacts of banditry on food security in state. The negative impacts have also completely affected the farming schedules of both rainfed and irrigation farming in the state. The Federal, State and local Governments have made efforts towards tackling the banditry but the situation still persists with even reports that bandits are imposing taxes on some farmers in some LGAs to allow them to cultivate their crops.
Recommendation
- NSCDC should deploy enough agro-rangers corps to Benue state with a view to provide security for farmers as they presently harvest crops and to ensure that the irrigation farming season commences smoothly.
- Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity stationed in Konshisha Local Government in Benue State should strive to device new strategies in confronting the bandits and ending banditry in Benue state. This is important considering the fact that the bandits still carry out attacks in the LGA despite the presence of the troops.
- Local government councils should contact their members of House of Representatives with a view to assist the vigilante groups with operational materials and logistics to enable them confront the bandits
References
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