Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology Vol. 18, No. 1, 2018 A22RAISAL OF RURAL -AN,ITRY IN K;A1UKU“ FOREST IN -IRNIN GWARI LOCAL GOVERN1ENT AREA OF KA,UNA STATE, NIGERIA 1-adzama, 2. ., 2Saddiq, N. 5., 3Oduehie, T. C. and 2.ariya, C. J. 1.epartment of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu 4ello niversity, Jaria, Kaduna State 2.epartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural .evelopment, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu 4ello niversity, Jaria, Kaduna State 3National Agricultural Extension and Research 3iaison Services, Ahmadu 4ello niversity, South East Jone, mudike1Nigeria Correspondence contact detailsA iugad6amaLgmail.com, M2348165560660 A-STRACT The study examined rural banditry, causes and its perceived effect on the rural economy in Kamuku forest in 4irnin -wari local government area of Kaduna State. 2t used Duantitative tool (questionnaire, to collect data from 300 randomly selected respondents (i.e. 30 respondents each from 10 districts in 4irnin -wari 3-A while qualitative data (in-depth interview, were sourced from ten (10) knowledgeable informants (i.e. one each from the ten districts purposively selected,. .ata collected were analy6ed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that 72.3N were male respondents and 88.2N had attained the age of 30 to 45years while 69.3% respondents were married and they had 6 to 15 children. Facilitating factors to rural banditry were poverty (57.2%,, greed (11.9N,, corruption (18.3%,, and poor security (12.GN,. Overwhelming proportion (92.2N, of the respondents indicated that bandits are prevented them from farming (27.4%,, hunting (25.FN,, obtaining forest food (14.3N,, firewood and medicinal herbs (24.8%, while 67.4% of the respondents agreed that rural banditry affects the rural economy. The results further reveal that the presence of HKamuku“ forest makes rural bandits to have safe haven to engage in cattle rustling in 4irnin -wari 3-A. This study indicated also that the presence of security personnel had not yielded the desired result as these bandits still steal or loot their farm producePlivestock, indiscriminately kidnap women and children particularly girls as well as commit crimes such as armed robbery, rape in the community. This study recommended that security operatives should keep on carrying routine patrol and go into the interior part of the forest for proper policing. 2t was also suggested that the concerned individuals, stakeholders, Kaduna State government and non1governmental organi6ations should work hand1in-hand to get rid of activities of rural bandits in the study area. Keywor.s5 Cattle Rustling, HKamuku“ Forest, Pastoralists, Rural 4anditry INTRO,UCTION scale and economic conseDuences in Hungoverned“ 2n Northwest Nigeria, particularly in spaces, and territories between Kaduna, Katsina Kaduna State and most especially in 4irnin -wari and Jamfara States. These armed gang and bandits 3ocal -overnment Area, criminal gangs are engage routinely raid cattle ranches owned by traditional in rural banditry by stealing cattle and livestock pastoralists. leading to the displacement of rural dwellers. The The rising incidence of cattle rustling as a theft of animals forces the rural inhabitants to part of the problem of rural banditry may not be migrate southward; causing environmental unconnected to the problem of small arms and light degradation, population growth, increase in the weapons that have found their way into the hands price of cattle, regional instability influence and of non-state actors, now a part of the wider e0acerbates farmersPherders conflict dynamics. challenge of human security confronting Nigeria. Rural banditry and cattle rustling appear to be Although it is difficult to obtain reliable data in increasing by the day because of several Nigeria, it has been suggested that between 7 and 8 interconnected issues involving tensions between million illicit small arms and light weapons are in farmers and pastoralists e0ploited by criminals circulation in West Africa alone, with a huge masDuerading as herdsmen. The phenomenon number entering Nigeria (Chuma1Okoro, 2013). appears to be connected to government security This is largely a result of porous borders, inadequacies, identity and intergroup relations and including the affinity between border communities the worsening socioeconomic conditions of the which consider any stringent border control as an people. The rural areas are populated by farmers infringement upon the social and cultural rights of and pastoralists who form the economic foundation the people (Chuma1Okoro, 2013). This estimate is of the nation contributing over 40% of Nigeria>s far above the figure of 1-2 million illicit small arms -ross .omestic Product in recent years in the early 2000s (Egwu, 2014,. Public policy (Augustine, 2015). Rustling and other animal theft responses must recogni6e that most of the factors has a different significance in the conte0t of potentially driving the proliferation of small arms perennial conflict between pastoralists and crop and light weapons are linked to the decline in state farmers. 9ence, conflicts are driven by insecurity capacity and the human security dilemma facing perpetuated by gra6ers in this area. For instance, both the state and citi6ens. The situation in many the growing menace of cattle rustling by armed parts of Nigeria resembles broader Sahel region gangs and bandits appears to differ in terms of governance voids. For instance, ungoverned space 42 Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology Vol. 18, No. 1, 2018 provides a power vacuum, which is at times filled of bandits in conte0t and deal with it effectively so by religious extremist groups and/or criminal as to enable rural dwellers to carry out their elements who have taken over remote areas where activities to boost rural economy. This and many the State presence is reduced or non-existent others were investigated in this study. (Aning, 2009,. The aim of this study is to appraise rural According to 5ohammed 4ello Tukur, banditry in HKamuku“ forest of 4irnin -wari 3-A, Secretary of 5yetti Allah Cattle 4reeders Kaduna State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are Association of Nigeria (5AC4AN,, there is weak toA state capacity to regulate and establish effective i. describe the socioeconomic characteristics governance which accounts for the high level of of respondents in the study area illegal activities perpetrated by criminal gangs and ii. e0amine the factors that causes rural networks. 5ost especially, in the 4irnin -wari area banditry in 4irnin -wari 3-A of Kaduna of Kaduna State which is a death trap where cattle State; rustling and other related criminal activities have iii. ascertain the type of crimes committed by become concentrated. Tukur further noted that bandits in the study area 4irnin -wari, through Funtua, Faskari, parts of iv. determine the perceived effects of rural Jamfara going to Anchau is not safe due to cattle banditry on the rural economy as well as rustlers and bandits. Every cow there has been communal and -overnment efforts to curb stolen including cows belonging to some Nigerian it, and army generals and top civil servants (Tukur, 2013). v. proffer practical solutions to the problem 2t is therefore, necessary to critically appraise the of rural banditry in contiguous to conditions of the people living in 4irnin -wari HKamukuI forest in the study area. 3-A contiguous to HKamuku“ forest so as to enhance their wellbeing and productivity. Rural 1ETHO,OLOGY banditry affects the rural economy negatively 4irnin -wari is a 3ocal -overnment Area because it impedes on production and imperils the in Kaduna State (Northwest geo1political 6one, of lives of people in the rural. Nigeria with its headquarters in 4irnin -wari. The The problem of cattle rustling in 4irnin 3-A has a landmass of 6,185 kmb and a population -wari 3-A of Kaduna State is worsened by the of 252,363 estimated by the 2006 census, but with proliferation of small arms and light weapons, a projected population of 335,076 in 2015. 4irnin affected by conflict, especially in the African Sahel -wari 3-A is located along Kaduna E 3agos region, due to lack of successfully1implementation E0press way at about 125km from Kaduna. 4irnin of disarmament programmes. 5ore often than not, -wari is located at 3atitude 12 o 20‘ N and targeted groups merely cross porous borders, 3ongitude 9 o 10> E (Fadama Report, 2008). 2t lies acDuiring new identities in the process. The in the western part of Kaduna State and shares difficult terrain of many rural areas, particularly the boundaries with Jamfara State to the North, Kogo scenario around HKamuku“ forest coupled with forest reserve of Kastina State to the East and poor communication, lack of social amenities such North East of -iwa 3-A and to the West Niger as good roads, adequate power supply and health State (HKamuku“ Park Report, 2010,. The 3-A has facilities and poverty aggravate the situation, sixteen districts namely; 4irnin -wari central, transforming it into ideal space for rustling, -ayam, 4ugai, Kutemeshi, Tabanni, .ogon .aa, smuggling, and small arms trade. These conditions Kakaangi, Randagi, K6ege, Kungi, 5aganda, also provide potential routes for terrorist activities. Saulawa, Saminaka, -waska, 4agoma and These core challenges of human security are Kuyello. The area is largely agrarian and most increased further by democratic governance>s residents are either farmers or livestock keepers. failure to deliver development and livelihood Crops grown in the area includes mai6e, rice, security for either individuals or groups of people wheat, groundnut and guinea corn. The in the study area. Also, perhaps, major violent predominant language spoken is 9ausa though crises have been manifestations of the deteriorating there is the presence of residents from other part of human security situation and the failure of the country democratic governance in 4irnin -wari 3-A. 2t For the Duantitative data, this study used has also sparked discourses that frame conflicts simple random sampling to distribute three hundred between different occupational groups, such as (300) Duestionnaires to 30 respondents each in 10 crop farmers and gra6ers.