Effect of Banditry and Kidnapping on The Development of Selected Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of banditry and kidnapping on the development of selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria, was investigated in North central Nigeria and eight (8) higher institutions with experience of bandit attack sampled in North central Nigeria which are; Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi local government areas, Niger State, Kwara State University, Malete, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State, University of Abuja, Plateau State University and Plateau State Polytechnic. A cross sectional research design was used to analyse data collected from three hundred and twenty one (321) survey participants along eight (8) higher institutions in North Central Nigeria, in order to analyse the survey data and draft the final findings, the study made use of descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data of the study, the survey responses are graphically and tabular presentations, frequency, Variance Inflation Factors (VIF) were used for pretest, T-statistics and probit regression analysis was used as an inferential tools and results interpreted for finally drafting the research findings. The analysis finds that Banditry and kidnapping has 279.749 Likelihood ratio of effect on the development of tertiary institutions with the corresponding significance value is 0.000, with this we conclude that banditry and kidnapping affect the development of tertiary institutions. The probit analysis of 144.617 (0.000) and t-statistics also shows that banditry and kidnapping activities has a significant negative effect on educational activities in North central Nigeria and educational activities has a very low tolerance for banditry and kidnapping activities. The study therefore recommends that Government should strengthen the security personnel by equipping them with sophisticated weapons, communication gadgets and logistics to enable them confront the bandits head-on and employing the services of Local vigilante, who possess relevant knowledge of the terrain of the vast ungoverned forest, into the security network to get into the nooks and crannies of the area to flush out these bandits. An enabling environment should be created by the government for the youth to be gainfully employed as well.