EFFECTS OF ARMED BANDITRY ON THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE OF SOKOTO EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF SOKOTO STATE – NIGERIA

The paper examined effects of armed banditry on the social development of people of Sokoto East Senatorial District of Sokoto State, Nigeria. Armed banditry is now a social problem which hindered the development of people of Sokoto East as it causes so many unpleasant effects. Some of the effects were the disruption of educational learning, restricted movement of the people by blocking access routes, large number of widows and widowers, large number of orphaned children prevention of social gatherings, instilled fear and disharmony, deteriorating health conditions of the people  loss of lives as well as the reduced intergroup relations of the people. The Sokoto State Government and Local Government Areas of Sokoto East adopted different strategies to solve the problems of armed banditry and some of the strategies were in form of community based response, traditional institutions and peace building initiatives, the community dialogues and amnesty strategies and the rest but the situation was to no avail. Two theories were adopted in the paper and   they were social disruption theory and poverty and economic deprivation theory. However, there is a conclusion and also some recommendations were offered. It was recommended in the paper that there should be continuous reinforcement of security personnel and mass educational programmes should also be organized by the governments in Sokoto East. More public enlightenment programmes on sanitary conditions and health care delivery should be organized and the governments in Sokoto East should also adequately fight against insecurity to protect the lives of the people. It was also recommended that Internally Displaced Persons in Sokoto East should be given adequate shelter and in addition, the masses should be vigilant of any suspicious movement of other people that can disrupt or disorganize peace in the area.