Rural banditry and structural marginalization in Nigeria: a critical political economy of the rural-crime-banditry nexus

Purpose Rural crime, particularly cattle rustling and related forms of rural banditry, has become a major socioeconomic and security challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria especially across Northern Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Kwara and Oyo States – these forms of violence have escalated, disrupting agrarian livelihoods and deepening rural insecurity. This study aims to explore the interconnections among rural crime, resource conflicts and sociopolitical marginalization, and to critically examine the structural and historical conditions that sustain this nexus within Nigeria’s evolving rural landscape. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a critical political economy and rural criminology framework to analyze the rural-crime-banditry nexus. It employs a historical-structural approach, tracing the legacies of land dispossession, pastoralist-farmer tensions and state neglect that underpin current patterns of rural insecurity. By integrating qualitative insights from existing studies, policy reports and regional conflict analyses, the paper situates rural banditry within broader processes of governance failure, socioeconomic exclusion and the securitization of agrarian spaces. Findings The study finds that conventional securitization strategies often intensify rather than mitigate rural violence by ignoring its structural roots in inequality, marginalization and resource scarcity. It argues for a critical, place-based approach that acknowledges the economic, cultural and governance dimensions of rural crime. Such a framework highlights the need for locally grounded, justice-oriented interventions that can inform transformative policies, enhance rural resilience and promote sustainable peace and development in Nigeria’s agrarian regions. Originality/value This study offers an original contribution by integrating political economy and rural criminology to conceptualize the rural-crime-banditry nexus in Nigeria. It departs from dominant securitization and law-enforcement perspectives by foregrounding structural, historical and place-based analyses of rural violence. By situating banditry within broader processes of land dispossession, governance failure and socioeconomic exclusion, the paper advances a critical framework that bridges theory and policy. Its insights provide a foundation for rethinking rural security interventions and promoting more equitable, context-sensitive strategies for peacebuilding and rural development.