REMOTE AND IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF BANDITRY IN KATSINA STATE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the remote and immediate causes of banditry in Katsina State focusing on some selected local government areas. This study adopted qualitative approach and the data for the study was through the instrument of interview. A total number of fifteen (15) respondents were selected to serve as the sample for the study. Content analysis was utilized as the tool for data analysis for the study. State fragility theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The findings of this study revealed that, the remote causes of banditry was traced to illiteracy, war economy, land dispute, climate change, while the immediate cause were traced to unemployment, poverty, forest land weak security system, proliferation of arms, illegal mining, the study, the study further revealed the effect of banditry on agriculture, socio-economic, unemployment and poverty, education, healthcare and displacement of children, women and older people. Based on the findings of this study, the study recommends that the policing system should be decentralized, and government should provide socio-economic intervention in order to assist the vulnerable one and the root of the banditry should be uprooted.