FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS AROUND BANDITRY PRONE AREAS, OF NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The activity of bandits in North western Nigeria has been on the increase by day, many farmers especially rural dwellers were forced to abandoned their farm lands which in return has adversely affected the food security situation among rural households in the region. This study examined set to examine the effect of banditry activities on rural household food security in Northwestern Nigeria. The data for the study was collected from sampled households in some selected banditry prone communities of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively. The findings of the study have revealed that banditry has seriously affected food security of rural households in the area. The bandits’ crimes have endangered farming activities, as they rustled livestock, destroyed food storage facilities, attack markets, and disrupts existing food supply chains which adversely affect supply and quality of food in the affected areas. The study recommends the needs for increasing stations of duty post and personals in the affected areas especially areas where access to farm lands were denied. Also, the study recommends the involvement, training and empowering of vigilant personnel to complement the effort of government in handling the bandits.