CHAPTER
ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
Militancy
is a state or condition of being combative or disposed to fight for a cause or belief
(Chindah and Braide (2000). It can also be
defined as a violent response by an individual, group or sect in a region,
community, state or nation due to claims of underdevelopment, political
oppression, religious beliefs and segregation. The motive is that people want
their rights and if they are not going to get it by negotiation, they simply
will then have it by violence against the “powers that be” – as the saying goes
“if peace cannot be reached through negotiation, force is applied”.
The
activities of several armed militant groups have cast a huge shadow of doubt on
the safety of life, commerce and properties. Although their activities are said
to be directed towards fighting for a good cause, the means adopted had caused
threats to the lives of residents in such areas Odiachi (2012). A case in point is the militant activities
within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which had caused security threats to
oil companies, expatriates and even the natives of the region. Their activities
target oil production facilities, oil workers and law enforcement agents and has
extended to affect the natives and their properties.
Although the activities of all militant groups
in Nigeria have been focused on fighting for a greater share of the country’s
oil revenue, positions in the federal levels, political and religious reasons,
they however have adopted anti-progressive means such as kidnapping, sabotage,
theft, property destruction, and guerilla warfare Lamb and Hameed (2012).
In
Nigeria today, many people have lost loved ones and properties as a result of
the activities of militant groups, some are yet to find loved ones who have
been kidnapped, some still grieve over loved ones that have been killed, people
have also lost valuable properties due to bomb attacks attached to these
activities. Most people who reside in areas where militant activities are
prevalent have lost every sense of security and those in areas where such activities
have subsided live in constant fear hoping they never resurface. Bannister and
Fyfe (2001) noted that the fear of crime is closely related to densely
populated and built environment. Although the reason behind various militant
activities may vary from place to place or time to time, its adverse effects on
the lives and properties will always be a cause of concern. It is for this
reason that the study examined the impact of militant activities on
Socio-economic development in Nigeria.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Since
the turn of a “new democracy” in 1999, militants intensified their fight with
government forces, sabotaged oil installations (which has led to more oil spillages),
taken foreign oil workers hostage and carried out lethal car bombings. At the
root of the problem is a crisis of underdevelopment. The crisis was exacerbated by emergent issues of gross distortion of
Nigerian federalism in respect to resource control, citizenship rights and
environmental degradation. Unfortunately, the external manifestation has been
mainly that of violent agitation, and
criminal activities of some elements, taking advantage of the bad situation.
Communities are in severe need for help as their youths see no more hope and
end up joining these militant groups as they are very lucrative.
This
led to government imposing security measures like curfew to reduce the rate of
crime but also this affects the economic activities of these communities
(agriculture, education, health, etc). The amnesty deal from October 2009 is
failing, money allocated for training are not reaching the ex-militants as contractors skim huge profits for themselves,
the oil companies continue to neglect the environment and needs of the
community. The Nigerian Federal and state
governments’
commitment is limited to speeches and promises.
The
above mentioned scenario has affected agricultural activities within the area,
leading to increased poverty among the farming households.
The high level of millitancy
and violence in Nigeria by the fundamentalist group has heightened fears among
the populace and the international community and has eaten deep into our economy and as a matter of fact, the hostility has gone
beyond resource control, religious or political coloration.
Several meetings,
summit, conferences etc have being held in a bid to curb the menace in the
country but all to no avail. Also apart from the fact that meetings have been
held, the federal governments have spent millions of naira in making sure that
security is brought back to the country but that has never worked. The security
agencies are at alert and getting their
arsenals always ready to put more effort in the promotion of effective security
in the country.
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