Why youths embrace banditry, violence – ActionAid

Nigeria has witnessed about 95 per cent of conflicts including thuggery, banditry, kidnapping, killings, cattle rustling, and thuggery mainly carried out mainly by youth, said the ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), The Resilient Programme Coordinator of AAN, Anicetus Atakpu, stated this at a policy dialogue organised by AAN and Global Peace Development in Kaduna.    He said the […]

Nigeria has witnessed about 95 per cent of conflicts including thuggery, banditry, kidnapping, killings, cattle rustling, and thuggery mainly carried out mainly by youth, said the ActionAid Nigeria (AAN),

The Resilient Programme Coordinator of AAN, Anicetus Atakpu, stated this at a policy dialogue organised by AAN and Global Peace Development in Kaduna.   

He said the growth rate of these crimes can be attributed to unemployment, poverty, and poor education, stressing that deliberate efforts must be put in place to transform the politics and government systems to be more responsive to the needs of their people.

He said, “95 per cent of every conflict or violence that took place in Nigeria is perpetrated by the youth. All the conflicts, even banditry, and kidnapping are carried out mostly by youth between 16-30 years. Quite often, poverty and inequality, lack of education, unemployment, and lack of economic opportunities among other issues have been identified as the main factors leading vulnerable youth into joining violent extremist groups in their communities. There is also a strong belief that social exclusion and feelings of marginalisation drive youth to embrace extreme ideologies.”

The Project Officer, Kaduna, ActionAid Nigeria, Mr Cornelius Shija, said 50 people participated in the dialogue, adding that they were drawn from civil society organisations, youth groups, government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as security agencies.

The Director of Youth Development, Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Maryam Musa, said the state government is developing a youth peace and security state action plan, stressing that it is important for youth to understand the peace process so that they can drive it.