CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Nigeria's socioeconomic growth has recently suffered a significant setback as a result of the emergence of several security threats, including armed banditry, abduction, insurgency, pastoralists/farmer conflict, and others, all of which pose a serious threat to the country's national security (Akinbi, 2015; Epron, 2018).States like Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, and Borno, among others, have already seen the consequences of these increasing security challenges. According to Olufemi (2015), over 462 trillion has been spent on national security by Nigerian governments in the last five years. The governments' efforts to bring the threat to a halt in order to avert a total breakdown of law and order seemed to have failed to produce the expected beneficial outcome. The term "banditry" refers to the presence or frequency of armed robbery or other forms of violent crime. It entails the use of force, or the threat of force, to frighten someone with the purpose of robbing, raping, or murdering them. Banditry is a crime committed against people. It has long been a popular kind of criminality, as well as a source of violence in modern countries (Nigeria Watch, 2011). Banditry's definition has evolved across time, space, and circumstances. In nineteenth-century Europe and the Americas, a bandit was a freedom fighter whose goal was to guarantee the emancipation of the oppressed from the upper classes or the colonized from the colonizers (Warto,1994:128)."Crime against humans, including murder, rape, and robbery, has escalated in scale and viciousness in Nigeria since 1999," according to Rotberg (2007:33). The ubiquitous tendency of armed robbery in the country, which in effect parallels the African experience, demonstrates this. According to Onimode, armed robbery in African countries includes car snatching, robbery of homes and offices, and way-laying of travelers (highway robbery). Since the 1980s, when the African crises began, their occurrence has been on the rise (Onimode, 2001:37). As a result, in certain pre-industrial communities, peasants regard bandits differently than the state, viewing them as avengers and "bread winners" rather than outlaws, hoodlums, and miscreants. The diversity of NYSC and the events that led up to the founding of the NYSC sparked a barrage of arguments for and against the regime's continuation (Asuka and Igwesi, 2012). With the present influx of ethnic, religious, and political conflicts in the country, concerns have been raised concerning the NYSC's ability to foster integration as promised by the decree and law. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) continued to make headlines in Nigerian newspapers. Due to Boko Haram and subsequent terrorist uprisings, the northern half of Nigeria steadily slid into structural chaos, whereas militancy and kidnappings predominated in the south (Amuta, 2012). The topic of whether the NYSC could operate in these undeclared and uninvited conflict zones was raised. For a number of reasons, most Nigerians question and even oppose young graduates deploying for the NYSC program in these increasingly perilous regions. Analysts, on the other hand, place a premium on the fact that Youth Corps members have been used as guinea pigs, and that the NYSC program has sadly become a true barometer for gauging the level of security in various sections of the country. The nation is at peace if the members of the body successfully finish their year of service in their home country. nditry, abduction, insurgency, pastoralists/farmer conflict, and others, all of which pose a serious threat to the country's national security (Akinbi, 2015; Epron, 2018).States like Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, and Borno, among others, have already seen the consequences of these increasing security challenges. According to Olufemi (2015), over 462 trillion has been spent on national security by Nigerian governments in the last five years. The governments' efforts to bring the threat to a halt in order to avert a total breakdown of law and order seemed to have failed to produce the expected beneficial outcome. The term "banditry" refers to the presence or frequency of armed robbery or other forms of violent crime. It entails the use of force, or the threat of force, to frighten someone with the purpose of robbing, raping, or murdering them. Banditry is a crime committed against people. It has long been a popular kind of criminality, as well as a source of violence in modern countries (Nigeria Watch, 2011). Banditry's definition has evolved across time, space, and circumstances. In nineteenth-century Europe and the Americas, a bandit was a freedom fighter whose goal was to guarantee the emancipation of the oppressed from the upper classes or the colonized from the colonizers (Warto,1994:128)."Crime against humans, including murder, rape, and robbery, has escalated in scale and viciousness in Nigeria since 1999," according to Rotberg (2007:33). The ubiquitous tendency of armed robbery in the country, which in effect parallels the African experience, demonstrates this. According to Onimode, armed robbery in African countries includes car snatching, robbery of homes and offices, and way-laying of travelers (highway robbery). Since the 1980s, when the African crises began, their occurrence has been on the rise (Onimode, 2001:37). As a result, in certain pre-industrial communities, peasants regard bandits differently than the state, viewing them as avengers and "bread winners" rather than outlaws, hoodlums, and miscreants. The diversity of NYSC and the events that led up to the founding of the NYSC sparked a barrage of arguments for and against the regime's continuation (Asuka and Igwesi, 2012). With the present influx of ethnic, religious, and political conflicts in the country, concerns have been raised concerning the NYSC's ability to foster integration as promised by the decree and law. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) continued to make headlines in Nigerian newspapers. Due to Boko Haram and subsequent terrorist uprisings, the northern half of Nigeria steadily slid into structural chaos, whereas militancy and kidnappings predominated in the south (Amuta, 2012). The topic of whether the NYSC could operate in these undeclared and uninvited conflict zones was raised. For a number of reasons, most Nigerians question and even oppose young graduates deploying for the NYSC program in these increasingly perilous regions. Analysts, on the other hand, place a premium on the fact that Youth Corps members have been used as guinea pigs, and that the NYSC program has sadly become a true barometer for gauging the level of security in various sections of the country. The nation is at peace if the members of the body successfully finish their year of service in their home country.

Statement of problem

Protests sparked by security issues have put the NYSC system's existence in jeopardy almost 40 years after it was established. Protests by NYSC corps members stationed in such areas, who worried about their lives owing to the Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappings, and violence, created concerns that the NYSC plan would no longer be relevant (Banji, 2012). The country's tensions are rising, and many groups are mobilizing for reorganization. Nysc has dispatched recent graduates to various parts of the country for a year of required service. The main aim of Nysc deployment is to develop common ties and promote national unity, but due to this, banditry attacks and insurgency corp members are not being posted to states where there have been cases of bandit attacks. Nysc officials in this state have also been extremely cautious and cautious for their own safety.Bandit attacks are common in most states, limiting corps members' movement and keeping them mostly indoors for fear of being kidnapped and held for ransom by these bandits.

Objective of the study

1. To ascertain the difficulties faced by corp members in states where banditry is prevalent.
2. To investigate how these bandit attacks affect the posting of corp members

Research questions

1. What are the challenges of corp members in states where banditry is prevalent?
2. How do these bandit attacks affect the posting of corp members?

Significance of the study

The state's ability to resolve or manage reoccurring crises, as well as create an enabling climate in which people's respect and love for their country is increased, would undoubtedly have a favorable impact on the pace of national integration. In Nigeria, national integration, defined as a process that leads to political cohesion and feelings of allegiance toward a central political authority and institutions among individuals from various social groups or political units, is a source of tremendous pride and importance. Government institutions, private persons, and scholars would benefit from this research

Scope of the study

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of banditry on Nysc scheme

Limitation of the study

The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are not limited to the following.

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

Definition of terms

Nysc:  Nysc is the national youth service corps, a mandatory one year service to the country after graduating from the university formed in by General Yakubu Gowon after the civil war to enhance National integration and healing in the country.

Banditry:Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence.

References

1. Ahmed, T.M(2010) Banditry Dynamism and Operating Pattern of Crime In Northwest Nigeria: A Threat of National Security

2. OKAFOR, C. , ANI,  J.K(2009). The National Youth Service Corps Programme and Growing Security Threat in Nigeria. research article

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