YOUTH POVERTY, VIOLENCE AND SMALL ARMS PROLIFERATIONS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF POLITICAL THUGGERY IN BAUCHI
YOUTH POVERTY, VIOLENCE AND SMALL ARMS PROLIFERATIONS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF POLITICAL THUGGERY IN BAUCHI

Summary/Abstract: Poverty and violence have eaten deep the polity of Nigeria. This is evident from the fact that economic situation of the country is faced with numerous challenges. The paper is an attempt to investigate whether small arms proliferations in northern Nigeria have economic and political causes. It becomes a fashion among politicians to mobilize unemployed youth for political and socio-religious disturbances in order to actualize their personal gains Part of the outcomes of the problem is the spread of arms and ammunitions among political thugs which also left majority of the populace in a state of terror. The paper has explained the influence of poverty on youth restiveness in the Northern part of Nigeria, particularly its implications on proliferation of small arms. It is obvious that such phenomenon can be a threat to national security of the Nigerian state. The situation also is becoming worrisome to policy makers. As such, it has been argued by this paper that, systemic improvement in governance is necessary to strategize policy framework to address the menace and reduce possibility of complicating the situation. The essay concludes that Nigeria may have been tends to become more vulnerable to separatist violence and risks of instability like the one we are witnessing in the 21st century north eastern states.

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