Ungoverned Spaces and the Emmerging Security Issues in Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria 2021-2025: Interrogating the Nexus

This study seek to explain the existence of ungoverned spaces in Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria and interrogate the nexus of this phenomenon and the emerging security issues in this part of the Country between 2021 and 2025. The study explore the upsurge in criminal exploits and the economic value that a better developed landscape can contribute to the overall wellbeing of the state. Opportunity theory of crime was adopted for the study, which attempts to offer explanation on why people commit crime. A structured 399 questionnaire were administered to a randomly selected 19 respondents in each of the 21 LGAs in Kogi State, out of which 342 were filled and returned. The questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively using tables, frequency, and percentage based on the data generated from the field. Findings reveal that, there is a rising cases of criminal abductions, kidnapping, highway robbery and other forms of terrorism in the state during the period of the study, and that the massive ungoverned spaces across the state coupled with illegal mining contributed to the phenomenon. Additionally, it was discovered that the poor condition of government roads and inadequate policing form part of the problem. The study recommends that Kogi State must evolve a comprehensive strategic plan towards the development of highly mechanized farming cooperative settlements that incorporate comparative advantage in the area of cash-crop production, in order to develop and regulate the ungoverned spaces. Transform most of the fertile landscape into economic value, set up its local police with requisite training, equipment and high level technology, while ensuring synergy with neighboring states in the area of security.

Ungoverned Spaces, Interrogate, Nexus and Security Issues

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