ETHNIC SENTIMENTS AND THE FIGHT

AGAINST BANDITRY

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 DEDICATION
I dedicate this project to God Almighty for the wisdom to carry out this work effectively

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of this research was made possible through the efforts an commitment
of so many whom I owe my appreciation. My foremost thanks go to the Almighty God, who
makes all things possible to them that believe Him.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page i
Dedication ii
Acknowledgement iii
Table of Content iv
Abstract v
CHAPTER ONE 1
1.0 Introduction 1
1.2 Conceptualizing Banditry/Rural Banditry 2
CHAPTER TWO 4
LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1 Perspectives on Rural Banditry in Nigeria and Beyond: A Literature Review 4
2.1.1. Critical Drivers of Rural Banditry in Northwestern Nigeria 6
2.1 Ethnic Sentiments 9
2.2 Patterns of Rural Banditry in North West Nigeria 13
2.3 Mitigating the Scourge of Rural Banditry 15
2.4 Conclusions 16
REFERENCES 17

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 ABSTRACT
Since independence, Nigeria has experienced an avalanche of ethno religious conflicts that
resulted in loss of lives and unquantifiable damages on properties. No doubt, the violent nature
of ethno-religious conflicts, which often take the form of riots, sabotage, assassination, armed
struggles, guerilla warfare and secession in Nigeria, have implications on the political and
economic development of the nation. According to reports, ethnic conflict is an issue that,
particularly during the last decade or so, has crept to the forefront of international political
debate. According to Stremlau (1999-03-26:1), “polarisation between ethnic groups and
resulting conflict between them as they compete for resources, political and economic power
and other goals, has spawned negative consequences of tremendous proportions, of which
genocide, ethnic cleansing and civil war are but a few examples, have caused several loss of
lives, livelihoods, displacements as well as properties”. More recently, a new dispensation of
insecurity cum armed terrorism is now rife within the country’s territorial space, enter banditry,
a ethnically motivated jargon coined to absolve the criminals from the right tag by which they
rather be called; terrorists. This paper examines the role of ethnic sentiments in the fight
against banditry and kidnapping.