Application of Focused Deterrence Strategy in Combating Incessant Violence Attacks and Insecurity in North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change and high population growth in Nigeria have intensified socio-econamic struggle and insecurity in some states around Nigeria, including North western States. The region has witnessed a boom in the trade of small arms and light weapons, organised gangs operating from ungoverned forests have proliferated the region, engaging in cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery, banditry, incleding that of miners and traders in the largely unregulated gold mining sector, as well as pillage of communities. The study focuses on the adoption of focused deterrence strategy to addressing insecurity in Northern West Nigeria.Qualitative methodology was adopted using its techniques for data collection. An unstructured interview was used to obtain data. A total of twenty-five respondents from the northwest States including; Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara were carefully selected for the interview. Also, an extensive literature was consulted to obtain vital information relating to the topic under study. According to findings, northwest Nigeria is characterised by violence between herders and farmers, which has been compounded by an explosion in criminal activity and infiltration by jihadist groups into the region, State level peace efforts with several armed factions have had little success, violence in this area has had a far-reaching humanitarian and economic impact on the region and created a domino effect of security problems, focused deterrence can be effective in combating criminalities in these places. Recommendations include the adoption of focused deterrence strategy to addressing insecurity in North West Nigeria, need for interagency networks in the application of focused deterrence strategy in addressing criminality in the northwest of Nigeria and nearby States, training of security agencies on the applications of focused deterrence strategy in addressing insecurity in northwest Nigeria.