University of Jos Journals
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State and Non-State Actors and Community Security: The Emergence of the Lakurawa Violent Group in Nigeria
No full textThis paper examines the emergence of the Lakurawa violent group in Nigeria as a case study of the complex interplay between state and non-state actors in shaping community security. Drawing on State Fragility Theory, the study argues that governance deficits, including weak policing, porous borders, and socio-economic deprivation, created the enabling conditions for Lakurawa’s rise. Using a qualitative methodology and relying on secondary data from journals, government reports, policy briefs, and media sources, the research employs thematic content analysis to trace Lakurawa’s origins, evolution, and impact on community security. The findings reveal that Lakurawa initially emerged as a vigilante formation invited by local leaders to defend communities from banditry, but later transformed into an extremist group asserting parallel governance through taxation, corporal punishment, and ideological indoctrination. The study demonstrates that while state actors (police, military, local authorities) have attempted to reassert control through proscription and military operations, these efforts have been undermined by intelligence failures, delayed responses, and civilian casualties, which further eroded trust. Non-state actors, including traditional and religious leaders, played paradoxical roles at times, enhancing protection, but also enabling the group’s entrenchment before eventually resisting its radical agenda. The Lakurawa case underscores the risks of hybrid security governance, where fragmented authority and mistrust between state and non-state actors create openings for violent groups. By linking local dynamics to broader Sahelian insecurity, the paper contributes to scholarly debates on fragile states and violent extremism in Africa. It concludes that militarized responses alone are insufficient. Instead, restoring community security requires rebuilding the social contract, regulating non-state actors, strengthening governance, and fostering regional cooperation
Vernacular Security and Local Constructions of Insecurity: A Case Study of Plateau State, Nigeria
No full textMainstream security discourses in Nigeria have long been dominated by state-centric perspectives that frame insecurity through the lenses of terrorism, insurgency, and national security. However, these discourses often obscure the everyday ways in which ordinary people experience, narrate, and respond to insecurity. It is based on this stance that this article examines the conceptual framework of Vernacular Security Studies (VSS) to explore how residents of Plateau State, Nigeria, articulate and operationalize their own meanings of security and insecurity. Using qualitative research approach that draws on interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary sources, the study examines the vernacular categories through which Plateau residents perceive insecurity such as An Fara (“it has started”), Malos (a local label for Muslims, often derogatory and pejorative), Fulani (as both threat and victim identity), and Yan Ta’adi (bandits/violent actors). The article argues that these terms are not mere linguistic artifacts but powerful vernacular securitizations that structure everyday practices of vigilance, exclusion, and resilience. By foregrounding local vocabularies of security, the study highlights the inadequacy of top-down counterinsurgency narratives and demonstrates the importance of grounding security studies in local knowledge
The Panorama of Morocco Versus Northern Sahara Conflict Reality
No full textThe Western Sahara conflict, a protracted territorial dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, encapsulates colonial legacies, competing nationalisms, and geopolitical rivalries, destabilizing the Maghreb. Originating from Spain’s 1970s decolonization, it juxtaposes Morocco’s historical sovereignty claims over the resource-rich territory against the Polisario’s pursuit of Sahrawi self-determination through the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Employing a qualitative historical-analytical methodology, this study utilizes thematic content analysis, comparative scrutiny, and critical discourse analysis of UN reports, peer-reviewed journals, and 2025 media to unpack layered causalities and power constructs. Adopting a realist framework, it interrogates the security dilemmas, strategic interests, and power dynamics perpetuating the impasse. The research traces the conflict’s trajectory from colonial entrenchment to decolonial fractures, analyzes recent escalations—including intensified drone warfare, cyber incursions, and Western endorsements of Moroccan autonomy—and evaluates regional ramifications, notably exacerbated Algeria-Morocco tensions marked by border closures, economic boycotts, and proxy escalations. Policy prescriptions advocate multilateral diplomacy, phased demilitarization, and economic incentives to transcend zero-sum territorial logic. By illuminating material drivers like phosphate wealth and systemic anarchy, this study enriches debates on post-colonial statecraft and mediation efficacy in 2025’s multipolar flux, offering nuanced insights into state-centric power maximization
Sustaining Ethical Standard among Building Contractors in Nigeria
No full textBuilding contractors play important role in the implementation of public building projects for the benefit and growth of the country. These contractors usually performed below expectations due to many challenges they encountered while performing their roles in the industry. The aim of this study is to identify the strategies that will sustain ethical standard among building contractors in Nigeria. This study used quantitative research method and questionnaires were used to obtain relevant information from the contractors and professionals involved directly in the implementation of public construction projects in the country. 231 respondents from the client organization, consultancy firms and contractors participated in the study. The results showed that transparency and accountability in contract administration, hiring right personnel and adhering to legislative laws that spell out punishment for any unethical practice are the three main strategies that could ensure ethical standard among the building contractors. It is recommended that the participants in the public building projects should implement these measures for better government projects development and delivery
OIL RENTS AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN AFRICA: EVALUATING THE MEDIATING EFFECTS OF TRADE OPENNESS
No full textThe persistence of high unemployment in some African countries necessitates this evaluation of the mediating effects of trade openness in the oil rents and unemployment relationship in oil rent receiving Africa countries. Using the two-step system generalized method of moments on data for 27 of these countries from 2000 to 2023, this study analysed interactions of oil rents and different measures of trade openness. The analysis found a significant inverse relationship between oil rents and unemployment. However, the respective interactions of the total trade and import measures of trade openness with oil rents indicated significant direct relationships with unemployment. The study, therefore, concluded that while oil rents are associated with lower unemployment in oil rent receiving countries in Africa, the outcome is not necessarily the result of openness to trade, as openness to trade, especially import trade, in fact, increases unemployment among these countries. The formation of capital through investment of rents is the more plausible means for reducing unemployment. The study, therefore, recommended the investment of oil rents in building infrastructure to enhance the growth of gross fixed capital formation and foreign direct investments. To achieve this, improvements in transparency and accountability in public finance should be encouraged
The Gendered Politics of Power: Women’s Representation and Political Leadership in Benue State
No full textDespite worldwide efforts to promote gender equality in governance, women in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State, remain largely underrepresented in political leadership. This study critically examines the gendered nature of political participation in Benue State, exploring socio-cultural, economic, and institutional barriers that hinder women's political representation. Through a mixed-methods approach involving key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and document review, the study finds that male-controlled structures, economic disenfranchisement, political violence, and party gatekeeping mechanisms severely limit women’s access to leadership positions. Furthermore, the tokenistic inclusion of women in governance, without real power or influence, reinforces existing gender inequalities. The study emphasizes the significance of policy reforms, affirmative action, and gender-sensitive party structures in addressing these disparities. By shedding light on the lived experiences of women politicians and aspiring female leaders in Benue State, this paper contributes to broader debates on inclusive governance and the reimagining of political spaces to accommodate gender diversity
Impact of Patriarchal Norms and Attitudes on Health Security of Women in North Central Nigeria: A study of Nasarawa State University Women
No full textPatriarchal norms and attitudes shape societal expectations about women and limit their autonomy leading to gender-based violence, restricted access to resources in making health relate decision further exacerbating health risks.The main objective is to assess how patriarchal structures influence women’s health security, focusing on culture of silence and shame surrounding violence against women and how this places limits on women autonomy and health security. Quantitative method of data analyses was employed to analyse data collected from 171 randomly selected sample of female staff of Nasarawa State University. The study findings revealed that, a culture of silence and shame persist and women are ridiculed for daring to open up against violence thereby impacting women's mental health. This was confirmed by the consistently high mean scores (ranging from 4.04 to 4.79) indicating that societal norms discourage open discussions about violence and personal struggles. This exacerbates the mental health conditions of survivors of violence, preventing them from seeking support. The study also found that patriarchal attitude of shaming victims of abuse leads to post traumatic disorders and sometimes death. The study therefore, recommends that Non-governmental organizations and community based organizations should engage traditional and religious institutions in awareness programmes to dismantle negative norms and attitudes on women. Also, the federal government and State governments especially in North-Central Nigeria should domesticate international and regional agreements on rights of women and strengthen support systems, including accessible health services and safe spaces for survivors of gender based violenc
Revitalizing Neighbourhoods Through Household Enterprises: A Replanning Strategy for Nigerian Cities
No full textThe relationship between the home environment and economic activities has not been fully appreciated in housing studies despite the UN-Habitat and the draft National Housing Policy (2012) of Nigeria that encourage operations of enterprises especially in low income housing development. It is against this backdrop that this research established the significance of enterprises in households and neighbourhoods in formal housing. Adopting a case study approach in Lokoja urban area in Nigeria, this study is aimed at creating productive households with capacity to revitalize neighbourhoods without compromising planning standards. Efforts were made to measure the extent of the relationship between enterprise location and satisfaction derivatives of operators, the implications of current household entrepreneurial practices on neighbourhoods and applying suitable best planning approaches that can accommodate enterprise in neighbourhoods. Entrepreneurs’ life satisfaction variables and workplace measurements were carried out to determine the level of satisfaction and compliance to extant physical planning standards respectively. A structural equation modelling of the life satisfaction variables shows satisfactory goodness of fit among accepted determinants of the model. however, a descriptive analysis of the qualitative study on the location of enterprises revealed that 49.6% operators are found in locations that contravene planning regulations. Neighbourhoods’ rehabilitation strategies to accommodate alternative workplace locations close to the homes were recommended
A Roadmap for Inclusive and Sustainable Human Settlements: A General Xray
No full textHuman settlements are fragmentations of different groups of people being classified along the lines of gender, income, religion, ethnicity, the rich, the poor, etc. Policy and decision makers often make the mistake of excluding some sets of people, the marginalized, the less privileged and the vulnerable among others in planning and decision making. The paper provides a general overview on theoretical perspectives on the dimensions of social inclusion/exclusion and exploring the landscape of inclusiveness generally with reference to some isolated cases in Nigeria. The study specific are to understand the dimension of social inclusion and exclusion, identify the landscape of inclusion and exclusion, establish the key groups to be included and how to enhance social inclusion of all groups of people in the society that will encouraged sustainable human settlements generally. The study adopted a desktop analysis approach by the x-ray of pertinent literature together with reports from United Nations among others to give a general overview on inclusive human settlement. The dimensions of social inclusion and exclusion from literatures were found to be diverse. The landscape of inclusion and exclusion include poverty, employment and sustainable development of human settlement. The identified key groups to be considered in social inclusion are women, youths, older people and migrants. And five steps for promoting social inclusion were identified. The key recommendations include, addressing challenges posed by discriminations, ethnicity, etc, through fostering gender equality, support for the integration of migrants, employing best practices in stakeholder engagements and strengthening the relationship of stakeholders as key participants in the constant evolution of human settlements among others as provided in the literatur
FLOODS AND FOOD SECURITY: AN ANALYSIS OF AFFECTED CROP PRODUCE AND MITIGATION MEASURES IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThis study aimed at analysing the effects of floods on food security with particular focus on crop produce as well as mitigating efforts in Kogi State, Nigeria. The two research questions and one null hypothesis that guided the study were analysed using data gathered with a research instrument from 45 farmers who were affected by floods between 2012 and 2022. Using percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis for the research question, and chi-square logistic likelihood ratio inferential statistics for the null hypothesis, the analysis revealed that cereal grains, fruits, pulses (legumes), vegetables, tuber crops, spices and herbs, oil-seed and fiber crops were affected by floods. The study dropped the null hypothesis – which suggested that there is significant difference between the observed and expected values of the two categories (floods and food security). Accordingly, the study concluded that floods did extremely affect crop produce and the farmers have made mitigation efforts, but they have been considerably inadequate; hence desirable results have not been achieved. It is therefore, recommended that governments at all levels as well as non-governmental organizations should make strategic efforts in mitigating the effects of floods on food security