An Assessment of the Onset of Extremism Among Students of Federal College of Education Pankshin

The cultural diversification of the Nigerian educational environment is a direct reflection of the Nigerian state. Issues of disenfranchisement, marginalisation and denial has led to the formation of gang groups even in institutions of learning. Gang groups are posing significant threats to safety and tranquillity in these institutions and challenging the fundamentals learning. Youths in general and students in particular are becoming easy targets to these extreme groups. This study sought to investigate the factors associated with student’s gang membership in the Federal College of Education Pankshin, north central Nigeria. This study employed the disproportional stratified sampling technique to select the 196 students that responded to 4-point Likert structured questionnaire that was used to generate data. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. This study found out that dysfunctional families and depression are the major reasons for seeking the embrace of gang groups. Ensuring that the learning environment is conducive, accommodating and supportive reduce the prevalence of gang groups and students’ affiliation with groups with extreme ideologies. Counselling and peer mentoring, informed conflict resolution mechanism and engagement in academic, entrepreneurial and extracurricular activities can be mounted and utilised to provide workable support systems for the students thereby capacitating them with life support skills for productive contribution to national building