Impact of communal and government measures in combating armed banditry on human security in Niger state, Nigeria

Abstract

This interconnectedness that eludes government security agencies is largely found in the underworld and such collaboration could be seen leveraged upon by bandits. From Zamfara State mining fields to kidnapping spree in Kaduna and cattle rustling in Niger State while both communal and government efforts struggle to curtail the extensive effects of banditry in the northern region of Nigeria. It was against this background that this study engaged the Theory of Structural Functionalism in a thematic study to examine the effects of communal and government measures in combating armed banditry on human security in Niger state, Nigeria. The research is conducted by examining the literature on banditry, communal strategies, and government intervention measures. The literature was obtained through searches in publicly available material. Literature from non-serial publications, official reports, and conferences has been included particularly if they have been cited by other references in terms of banditry. The study revealed that communal efforts have positive though marginal effects on tackling banditry in Niger State. While government efforts are largely seen as reactive and less effective at confronting banditry. Based on these findings, the study concludes that community-oriented policing will go a long way in addressing banditry. The study equally concludes that national security architecture is too over-concentrated at the federal level and thus reactive through overcentralized commands of all law enforcement agencies. The study recommends that the Federal and State Governments should bring security apparatus closer to the community as against warehousing security in the exclusive list. The study also recommends that government narratives to counter banditry should be the deployment of good governance as good governance will engender employment and provision of basic amenities.