Effects of banditry on food security in Zamfara State

Abstract

Banditry is a great security issue in the Northeastern part of Nigeria for years. It affected the human life and security of properties. Food security to be precise is one major aspect that is affected where livestock, market and other food related commodities are badly affected in terms of production, consumption and commerce. This paper aims to look in to the effects of banditry on food security in Zamfara State. Selected areas for the study are where data from focus group discussion were derived for the study, it includes among others; Shinkafi, Bakura Maradun and Anka. The study employed Frustration Aggression Theory as the theoretical pedestal to analyze the drive causing food security in the study areas. Among the findings of the study is that, banditry has a great effect on the security of food in the study area, it reduces production, retards other farming activities, destroys livestock, halts commercial activities, causes famine and destroys the environment. Other findings angles on the human security in Zamfara State, lives are not secured, farmlands are abandoned, cattle are rustled which cripples the political economy of Zamfara State. The paper thus recommends a holistic and strategic approach curtail banditry especially in the areas riddled with its effect, farmlands, market places and grazing lands should be adequately protected to secure food and safe peoples’ life. Intelligence on the hideouts of the bandits and their plots should be acquired using traditional or people at the grass root, to detect abnormal activities like huge procurement of food from the markets, drugs from pharmacies, supply of fuel and presence of unknown people in the areas.