The Nature and causes of Banditry in Nigeria; a study of Batsari Local Government area in Katsina state

This paper is based on findings of an empirical research conducted on the nature and causes of Banditry in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the nature and causes of Banditry in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. It gave answers to the questions of what are the causes of banditry? What is the nature of banditry in Batsari Local Government area? This study adopted the Marxian Political Economy in investigating the problem of banditry in Nigeria with a particular focus on Batsari local Government area of Katsina state. Using the survey research design, the study adopted the multi-stage cluster sampling technique and administered 200 questionnaires to known direct and indirect victims of banditry. Also, 12 key informants were interviewed, and the study also conducted two focus group discussions which involved a group of farmers and the other involved a group of pastoralists. The major findings showed that the causes of banditry in Batsari local government are the lack of basic social amenities, unemployment, and proliferation of small arms. Efforts by individuals, the community and the government have not yielded the desired results. Therefore, the study recommended that the government should provide basic amenities in Batsari, focus on providing employment especially for individuals in the rural areas which are largely agrarian to reduce poverty, encourage the security agents by providing them with modern weapons to combat crime.