THE HUMAN COST OF INSECURITY: REIMAGINING PEACEBUILDING IN NIGERIA

Insecurity has evolved into one of the most disruptive forces in Nigeria’s contemporary socio-political landscape, producing a scale of human suffering that stretches far beyond quantifiable metrics of violence. This article interrogates the human cost of insecurity in Nigeria, drawing on empirical data, scholarly research, and interdisciplinary perspectives from peace studies, political science, sociology, economics, and security studies. It argues that the country’s long-standing security crises from terrorism and banditry to farmer–herder conflict, kidnapping, communal clashes, militancy, and urban crime are not merely symptoms of state fragility but engines of widespread social dislocation, structural impoverishment, psychological trauma, demographic realignment, and institutional decay. The article critiques state-centered, militarized approaches to security management, exposing their inadequacy in addressing root causes. It proposes a reimagined model of peacebuilding grounded in human security, community resilience, social justice, restorative governance, local participation, and adaptive institutional reform. The analysis contributes to global peacebuilding discourse by framing Nigeria as a critical case study for understanding human-centered insecurity in postcolonial societies. The article concludes by offering policy pathways for sustainable peace.