Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the root causes of current armed banditry and kidnapping in Katsina with emphasis on Dutsen-Ma, as one of the most affected Local Government Area in the state. The paper highlights the impacts of these crimes on women and children as the most affected civilians.

Paper long abstract:

Armed banditry and kidnapping are the two major security challenges disturbing Northern parts of Nigeria. The genesis of such crimes started as herder-farmer conflicts but later metamorphoses to kidnap for ransom, extortion, murder, cattle rustling and rape. These crimes could be attributed to bad governance, poverty, unemployment, economic instability, corruption, political instability, civil unrest and illiteracy. Armed banditry and kidnapping has become an event of daily occurrences in Northern Nigeria and poses a security threat to the nation. This paper explores the impact of armed banditry and kidnapping on women, young girls and children in Dutsen-Ma, as one of the most affected Local Government Area of Katsina State. The menace of such criminalities led to rape, forced displacements, trauma, discontinuation of education, economic hardship and loss of lives. It is also found that on daily basis, every evening, young girls,women and children who are the main target of these criminals have to abandon their homes and trek to the neighbouring villages seeking shelter, all in an attempt to avoid apprehension by bandits, only to return home the next morning. This has been the daily routine among the people of Dutsen-Ma community.