Banditry and National Security: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria

Abstract

Every society aims at development of citizenry without jeopardizing the chances of its future generations. One of the challenges to sustainable development is banditry. The criminal act leads to loss of lives and properties, disintegration of national unity or cohesion, destruction of critical infrastructures, and dispelling of investors. The dearth of literature on banditry as obstacles to national security and development motivated this paper. Hence, this paper assesses the significant relationship between banditry, national security and sustainable development. The paper adopts qualitative research method. Data were sourced secondarily through the content analysis of peer-reviewed journals, dailies and credible online resources. Findings show that banditry involving kidnapping, armed robbery and theft, are threats to national security. These violent crimes aggravate unemployment, food shortage, loss of lives and properties. These aggravates crime rates in Nigeria. The paper recommends intelligence security measures to checkmate the rising incidents of kidnapping in the country.