REASONSANDEFFECTSOFYOUTHINVOLVEMENTINCONFLICTSIN

BORNOSTATE,NIGERIA:IMPLICATIONSFORCOUNSELLING

BY

Ngohi,BukarUmar

MohammedGoniCollegeofLegalandIslamicStudies(MOGCOLIS),Maiduguri,BornoState,Nigeria

And

MalamBulamakobre

MuhammatLawanCollegeofAgriculture(MULCA),

Maiduguri,BornoState,Nigeria.

Abstract

Youtharemanipulatedby“merchantsofviolence”fordestructiveratherthanexploitingtheirpotentialsforconstructivepurposes.ThestudysurveyedthereasonsforandeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria.FromthepopulationofallyouthsintheState,atotalof600youthparticipatedinthestudymadeupof456malesand144femalesselectedthroughvolunteersamplingtechniquesfrom5InternallyDisplacedPeople’sCamp,4motorparksand2PoliticalPartyOfficesinJereandMaiduguriMetropolis.StructuredInterviewSchedule(SIS)andFocusedGroupDiscussions(FGD)weretheinstrumentsusedtocollectdataforthestudy.Datacollectedwasanalyzedusingfrequencycounts,percentages and rank ordering. Results of the study revealedunemployment, poor parental upbringing, exposure to firearms,proliferationofdrugsandinfluenceofpeergroupassomeofthereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictswhilebreakdownoflaw andorder,destructionsoflivesandproperties,forcefulmigration,increasedcostoflivingandeducationalsetbackconstitutesomeoftheeffectsofyouthinvolvementin conflictsin thestudyarea.Provision ofsomethingworthwhiletodofortheteamingyouth,inclusionofpeacestudiesandconflictsresolutionandentrepreneurshipforskillsacquisitionintotheschoolcurriculum,value re-orientation and organizing conferences,seminarsandworkshopstoenlightentheyouthontheevilsofconflictswere some ofthe counselling implications and recommendationsproffered.

Keywords:Youth,conflicts,reasons,effects,counsellingimplications.

1

Introduction

Theconceptofyouthvariesfrom onecountrytoanotherdependingonthe

interplayofsocio-political,economic,institutionalandculturalfactors.InNigeria,a

youthisanypersonagedbetween12and35years(FederalRepublicofNigeria,FRN,

1999).Akinboye(1987)definedyouthaschronologicallybetweenchildhoodand

adulthoodandfixedtheageat12-21years.Dlakwa(2006)putstheyouthagebetween

15and30yearswhileApeon(2004)andNgohi(2006)consideredtheyouthaged

between12and40years.Globaldemographicdataasat2002revealedtheworld

youthpopulationasonebillion,thatisoneoutofeveryfivepersonsisayouth

representing18%oftheworld’stotalpopulation.About85%oftheworld’syouthare

residingindevelopingcountriesofAfrica,AsiaandLatin-Americaandsuchfigure

increasedto89.5%by2005.InAfrica,thereare793millionyouthrepresenting20.3%of

Africa’stotalpopulationafterAsiawith61.5%accordingtoUnitedNationascitedby

Ogidi(2004).InNigeria,availabledataindicatedthatyouthasat2000represented

24,726,912thatis19.2%ofthetotalpopulationandby2030;ithasbeenprojectedthat

youthpopulationwouldriseto20% ofthetotalpopulation.However,insteadof

recognizingandharnessingpotentialsoftheyouthassignificantmediaforpositive

changeandproductiveforceofthenation,suchpotentialsareexploitedby“merchants

ofviolence”andmisguidedfordestructivepurposes.

Conflictisawordofanger,disagreement,discomfort,frustration,painand

sadnesstovirtuallyeveryoneinBornoState(Ngohi,2015).Conflictisoneofthemost

recurrentandspectacularphenomenonofhumanexistenceanditisthemotherand

murdererofallcivilizations.Itisavehicleofconstructiveanddestructivechange.In

spiteofitsrelevanceinmakinghistory,conflicthasbeendescribedasthehighestform

ofpoliticalorderthathassofarbeensustainedglobally(Chiya,2010).Theyouthare

facedwitha“doubledisadvantage”asvictimsandperpetratorsofconflictsasthey

representamajorsub-groupofthepopulationinanypartoftheglobethatare

vulnerableandsusceptibletoinvolvementinconflicteithervoluntarilyorbycoercion

(Ogidi,2004).AnumberofconflictsaroundtheworldandparticularlyinAfricabetween

2009and2015claimedmorelivesoftheyouthsthantheglobalecologicalhazardsof

thecenturyputtogether.Theyouthshaveappreciablepotentialsandqualitiesthat

shouldberecognizedandeffectivelyharnessedforsustainabledevelopmenthowever;

suchpotentialsareironicallyexploitedby“merchantsofviolence”fortheirdestructive

ratherthanconstructivepurposes(Ngohi,2015).Conflictsacrosstheworldparticularly

inNigeriahavehaddevastatingconsequencesontheallrounddevelopmentofthe

youths.Besidesthepsychologicaltrauma,theycouldbestigmatizedforperpetrating

conflictsanditsdetrimentaleffects.Sincetheyouthsrepresentasignificantproportion

oftheproductiveforceofanynation,theyshouldberecognizedasotherkeyplayersin

theoveralldevelopmentofthenation.

Thereisnoregionintheworldthatiscompletelyfreefromconflict,insurgency

2

orseparatistmovementsinvolvingexodusofyouthsvoluntarilyorbycoercion.Inthe

listofcountriesinAfricaandtheMiddle-Eastthatengagedinconflictsandwidespread

civildisturbancessince2000,Alao(2015)revealedthatAfricarecordedthehighest

with26numberofconflictsfollowedbyAsiawith16whileMiddle-Eastrecorded

8numberofconflictswiththehotspotsinIsreal,Iran,Iraq,LebanonandSyria.Conflicts

inNigeriawhicharethreatstonationalsecuritystartedasmanifestgroupreactionto

politicalexclusionandmarginalizationwhichtheauthoritarianstateentrenched(Chiya,

2010).ThesituationinNigeriawascomplicatedbythefactthatitunderwentsixviolent

changesofgovernmentinadditiontothirtymonthslongcivilwarinwhichan

estimatedonemillionyouthswerekilled,maimedordisplacedjustaswhatobtainedin

Sudan,Uganda,Ghana,BurundiandBeninwhereeachundergoneviolenceand

brutalizationfivetimes.Tchad,Burkina-FasoandSierra-Leonehavedonesofour

timeswhileEthiopia,Congo,ComorosandtheCentralAfricanRepublic(CAR)each

experiencedviolencethreetimes.OthercountrieslikeLiberia,Lesotho,Mali,Mauritania,

Niger,Rwanda,SomaliaandTogoamongothersalsounderwentseveralperiodsof

politicaltumults,violenceandbrutalizationinvolvingyouthseitherasperpetrators,

victimsorboth(Adedeji,2012).

Ngohi(2015)expressedthatapartfrom theseriesofethnic,interandintra

communaldisputesthatoccurredpriortoindependence,Nigeriawitnessedarangeof

conflictsinvolvingyouthsinceindependence.SomeoftheseconflictsincludetheCivil

Warof1967-70,theMaitatsineof1980,Kafanchan-Kadunain1987,Kadunadebacleof

2000,Tiv-JukunconflictsinWukari,theongoingJoscrisis,Ife-Modakekecrisis,the

ShagamuHausa-Yorubacrisisin2000,Ogoni-Ekpedocrisisof2003,Aguleri-Umeleri

debacleof2000,theIjaw-ItsekiriandIjaw-Urhoboof1997-2000,Ogoni-Odiof2001,

conflictarisingfromtheannulmentoftheJune,1993electionsandthecrisissituation

causedbyKen-SaroWiwaonecologicaldevastationofOgoniland.Othersincludethe

Zaki-Biam,Odi,UmuechemandKiamamassacresin1990,1991-93,1995and1999

andtheShariapogromof1976-9tothemostrecentandongoingBoko-Haram from

2009todateinAdamawa,Bauchi,Borno,Gombe,Kaduna,KanoandYobeStates

amongotherswithvaryingdegreeofintensity.

Fromthe1980sto2013,thedifferentgeopoliticalzonesinNigeriaencountered

severaldimensionsofconflictsinwhichyouthswereactivelyinvolvedwhichledtothe

formationandmobilizationofyouthsintomilitiagroupssuchasthePan-NigerDelta

ResistanceMovement(CHIKOKO),theIjawYouthCouncil(IYC),theMovementforthe

SurvivaloftheOgoniPeople(MOSOP)andtheKiamaYouthDeclaration(KYD).Others

includetheOodu’aPeopleCongress(OPC),theSupremeEgbesuAssembly(SEA)orthe

‘EgbesuBoys’(EB)andtheArewaYouthConsultativeForum(AYCF)(Otite,2001and

Ogidi,2004).Ogidi,2004andNgohi,2015expressedthatsomeofthepotentialsofthe

youthsexploitedforviolentconflictsinNigeriaincludetheireagernessforactivity,

vibrancy,mentalalertness,curiousoutlook,youthfulexuberanceandendurance.

3

Differentformsoflocallymadeandsophisticatedweaponswereusedbytheyouthin

achievingtheirdestructivegoals.Attempttowardsfindingoutwhytheyouthare

misdirectedandengagedinsuchdestructiveactsinformedtheresearcherstohave

conductedthisstudyonthereasonsforandeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsin

BornoState,Nigeria.

StatementoftheProblem

ItisdishearteningtoobservethatinBornoState,Nigeriayouthhavebeen

passiveagentsofchange.Theyhavebeenusedbyselfish“merchantsofviolence”as

perpetratorsofconflictsandendupasvictimsofsuchconflicts.Inmostpartsofthe

world,youthconstitutethemajorpillarinthesocio-political,economicandeducational

developmentsoftheirareas.Ironicallyhowever,inBornoState,selfishelitesand

particularlypoliticiansexploitstheappreciablepotentialsandqualitiesoftheyouthfor

destructiveratherthanconstructivepurposesbyengagingthem asperpetratorsof

conflictsandconsequentlyendupasvictims.Thegrowingconcernisthefactthat

trillionsofyouthsinvolvedinconflictsvoluntarilyorbycoercionindifferentpartsofthe

globeendupasvictimswithresultanteffectsonsustainablenationalandallround

developmentoftheyouth,whythenshouldtheyouthwhorepresentanunlimited

reservoirofmanpowerthatcouldbeharnessedfornationaldevelopmentbecome

vulnerableandsusceptibletoinvolvementinconflictsandendupasvictims?This

studythereforeinvestigatedthephenomenonofyouthinvolvementinconflictsin

BornoState,Nigeria.

Methodology

Thestudywasasurveyresearchdesignedtoinvestigatethereasonsand

effectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria.Thepopulationofthe

studycomprisedofallyouthintheState.Thestudyhoweverusedasampleof600

youthcomprisingof456(76%)malesand144(24%)femalesselectedthrough

volunteersamplingtechniquefrom 5InternallyDisplacedPeople’s(IDP)Camps,4

Motorparksand2PoliticalPartyOfficesinJereLocalGovernmentandMaiduguri

Metropolis.Theiragesrangefrom 13-27years.Theresearchinstrumentsusedto

collectdatawereStructuredInterviewSchedule(SIS)andFocusedGroupDiscussions

(FGD).TheStructuredInterviewSchedulewasdevelopedbytheresearchersandpilot

testedamong100youthusingtest-re-testmethod.Thedatageneratedfromthetest-

re-testwerecorrelatedusingPearsonProductMomentCorrelationCoefficient(PPMC).

Thereliabilitycoefficientof.73wasfoundwhichwasconsideredadequateand

adjudgedappropriateforthestudy.

ToconducttheInterview,theresearchersvisitedtheyouthatthefollowing

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points:NYSCIDPCamp,YerwaGovernmentGirls’SecondarySchoolCamp,Arabic

Teachers’CollegeCamp,WomenTeachers’CollegeCamp,UnityGirls’CollegeCamp,

BagaMotorPark,KanoMotorPark,BamaMotorPark,BornoExpressMotorPark,CPC

PartySecretariatandPDPPartySecretariat.Thesewerethepointsidentifiedasthe

majorplaceswhereyoutharefoundmostofthetimes.WhileattheIDPCampsthe

researchersfirstexplainedthepurposeoftheresearchtothesecurityagents(Military

personnelandCJTF)forpermissiontoenterthecampsandsomeoftheCivilianJoint

TaskForce(CJTF)wereusedasresearchassistantsbutateachoftheMotorparks

andPartySecretariats,theresearchersfirstidentifiedtheleadersandexplainthe

purposeofthestudyandthatparticipationwasvoluntary.Theleadersateachpoint

servedasresearchassistants.Thesubjectsthatvolunteeredwereinterviewedand3

groupdiscussionswereheldateachpointwheretheinterviewswereheld.

DataAnalysis

Thedatacollectedforthestudywereanalyzedusingfrequencycountsand

percentages.Theresponseswerefurtherrankedtogiveapictorialview ofthe

respondents’ratingofeachitem ontheinstrument.Theresultswerepresentedin

Tables1-3.

ObjectivesoftheStudy

Theobjectivesofthestudywereto:

1.ExaminethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria

2.ExaminethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeriaby

gender

3.DeterminetheeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria

ResearchQuestions

Thefollowingresearchquestionswereansweredinthestudy:

1.WhatarethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria?

2.WhatarethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria

bygender?

3.WhataretheeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria?

Results

ResearchQuestionOne:Whatarethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsin

BornoState,Nigeria?

Table1:ReasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,Nigeria

Reasons Responses Rank

5

Unemployment 127(21.2) 1st

Poorparentalupbringing 119(19.8) 2nd

Struggleforpower 91(15.2) 3rd

Exposuretofirearms 74(12.3) 4th

Poverty 57(9.5) 5th

Corruption 37(6.2) 6th

Lackofvisionaryleadership 31(5.2) 7th

Proliferationofdrugs 27(4.5) 8th

Influenceofpeergroup 23(3.8) 9th

Defectiveeducationalsystem 14(2.3) 10th

Total 600(100.0)

Note:Allscoresinparenthesisarepercentagesofthefrequencies.

Table1revealedthatunemployment,poorparentalupbringing,strugglefor

powerandexposuretofirearmsconstitutedthemajorreasonsforyouthinvolvementin

conflictsinBornoStatethus,scorehigherandrankedfrom1stto4thwhileinfluenceof

drugs,peergroupanddefectiveeducationalsystem formedtheminorreasonsfor

youthinvolvementinconflictsintheStatehence,scorelowerandrankedfrom8thto

10th.

ResearchQuestionTwo:Whatarethereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsin

BornoState,Nigeriabygender?

Table2:ReasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoStatebygender

Frequenciesandpercentagesofresponsesbygender

Reasons Male Percentage Rank Female Percentage Rank

Unemployment 97 16.2 1st 30 5.0 1st

PoorParentalUpbringing 94 15.7 2nd 25 4.2 2nd

StruggleforPower 71 11.8 3rd 20 3.2 3rd

6

ExposuretoFirearms 57 9.5 4th 17 2.8 4th

Poverty 41 6.8 5th 16 2.7 5th

Corruption 30 5.0 6th 07 1.2 6th

Lackofvisionaryleadership 24 4.0 7th 07 1.2 6th

Proliferationofdrugs 17 2.8 8th 10 1.7 8th

Influenceofpeergroup 13 2.2 9th 10 1.7 8th

Defectiveeducationalsystem 12 2.0 10th 02 0.3 10th

Total 456 76 144 24

Table 2 showed thatboth the male and female respondents indicated

unemployment,poorparentalupbringing,struggleforpowerandexposuretofirearms

asthemajorreasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoStatethusranked

from 1stto4th whileproliferationofdrugs,influenceofpeergroupanddefective

educationalsystem constituted the minorreasons forboth male and female

respondentshence,rankedtheleast.

ResearchQuestionThree:Whataretheeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsin

BornoState,Nigeria?

Table3:EffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,NigeriaEffects Responses Rank

Breakdownoflawandorder 116(19.3) 1st

Destructionsoflive 105(17.5) 2nd

Destructionsofproperties 95(15.8) 3rd

Forcefulmigration 61(10.2) 4th

Absenceofcommercialactivities 59(9.8) 5th

Lackofagriculturaloutput 42(7.1) 6th

Refugeeinone’sownland 40(6.7) 7th

Increasedcostofliving 38(6.3) 8th

7

Educationalsetback 29(4.8) 9th

Underdevelopment 15(2.5) 10th

Total 600(100.0)

Note:Allscoresinparenthesesarepercentagesofthefrequencies.

Table3indicatedthatbreakdownoflaw andorder,destructionsoflive,

destructionsofpropertiesandforcefulmigrationcomprisedthemajoreffectsofyouth

involvementinconflictsinBornoStatethus,havethehigherscoresandrankedfrom1st

to4th whileincreasedcostofliving,educationalsetbackandunderdevelopment

constitutedtheminoreffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsintheStatehence,have

thelowerscoresandrankedfrom8thto10th.

Discussion

Itisevidencedfrom Table1thatunemployment,poorparentalupbringing,

exposuretofirearms,lackofvisionaryleadership,proliferationofdrugsandpeergroup

influenceconstitutedsomeofthereasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBorno

State,Nigeria.ThefindingsinTable1isinlinewiththeearlierfindingsofIsumonah

andGaskia(2001),Jibo,SimbineandGaladima(2004),Ogidi(2004),Ogle(2004),

Mohammed(2007), Abubakar(2010),Anifowose(2011)andNgohi(2015)that

sustainablepeaceinBornoStateinparticularandNigeriaingeneralproveselusive

becausetheimportantstakeholders(youth)whosepotentialscouldhavebeen

effectivelyharnessedforpositivesocio-economictransformation,wereironically

exploitedby“merchantsofviolence”fortheirillegalanddetrimental/destructivegoals.

ProminentexamplesincludetheTafawa Balewa riots(1990-91),Zangon-Kataf

conflicts(1987),Kanoriots(2004),Joscrisis(2001-2004,2008-2012),Kadunariots

(2000),theviolentclashesbetweenEkpedoyouthinEdoState,theOgoriofKogiState,

thebloodyconflictsamongtheIjaw,UrhoboandItsekiriwhichleadtomassive

destructionoflivesandpropertiesbyyouthstothemostcontemporary(2009-2014)

BokoHaramissuebedevilingAdamawa,Borno,YobeandotherpartsoftheNorth-East.

FindingsofthisstudycorroboratesthestudiesofAbbah(2003),Yakubu(2005)

andOsewe(2010)thatyouthconstituteover40%(66million)oftheworld’stotal

unemployedcitizenswhichisoneoftheprimefactorsthatrenderthemvulnerableto

engaginginconflicts.Theyouth’sstateoffrustrationsduetolackofsomething

worthwhiletodobecomesanopportunityforthe‘politicalelites’toenlistthem for

destructivepurposes.Osaghae(2001),Yakubu(2005),Osewe(2010)andNgohi(2015)

expressedthatimportationoffirearmsthroughtheporousandundermannedNigerian

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boardersenablethepoliticalelitestoengagetheyouthaspoliticalthugstoeliminate

opponents.ThisisbecausetheNigeria’sboarderlineseemstohaveprovedtoo

extensivetobeeffectivelypolicedbytheNigeriansecuritypersonnel,thusexposingthe

nationtomercyofarmssmugglers.

OntheeffectsofyouthinvolvementinconflictsinBornoState,NigeriaTable3

indicatedbreakdownoflawandorder,destructionsoflivesandproperties,forceful

migration,increasedcostoflivingandeducationalsetbackamongothers.Thisfinding

affirmsthefindingsofHafez(2000),Obadare(2000),M oser and Clark (2001),

Krueger(2002),Eric(2003),Ogidi(2004),Apam (2006),Piazza(2006),Diegoand

Steffen(2008),Thomas(2009),Dzurgba(2010),Mohammed(2012),Audu,Ganaand

Babale(2013)andGumsumi(2015)whoexpressedthatconflictshavedevastating

consequencesonthesocial,economic,political,religious,health,educationalandall

rounddevelopmentofthosethatmaysurvive.Gumsumi(2015)forexample,expressed

thatbesidesthepsychologicaltrauma,othereffectsofconflictsincludeimpromptu

closureofacademicinstitutions,violationoflaw andorder,exoduswidowsand

orphans,malnutrition,developmentofrefugeecampsandhealthhazards.Thissuggest

thatanyformofviolentconflictsinvolvingyouthturnsouttobedetrimentalandthe

aftermathisdevastatingonthesocio-economicandgeneraldevelopmentofthestate.

ImplicationsforCounselling

Conflicts is mostlya learned behaviourwhich can be acquired during

socialization orinteraction processes.Delinquentyouths spoilthe good ones

apparentlyinschoolorathomethroughtheprocessofinteractingandwilldevelop

aberrantanti-socialbehaviours.Thus,effortsneedtobemadeforearlyidentificationof

suchdelinquentbehavioursamongyouth.Thereisneedtherefore,forearliercontrolof

anti-socialbehavioursbywayofre-orientingtheyouthtowardspositivesocialvalues

throughguidanceandcounselling.Theyouthshouldbegiventheopportunitytofreely

discusstheirreasonsforinvolvinginarmsconflicts,thisisbecauseiftheyouthshave

acollectiveresponsibilitytoconfrontthemenaceofanti-socialbehaviours,theevilsof

the“merchantsofviolence”willberecognizedandtheappreciationofethical

revolutionandmoralvalueswillevolve.

Tocurtailthemenaceofpeerinfluence,pathologicalhomeconditionsshouldbe

completely removed.This could be achieved when parents provide good

communicationinthefamilysuchthatparentsandchildrencanfreelycommunicate

andrespecteachother’sopinions.Freeflowofinformationinthefamilysystemwill

preventtheyouthfromgettingwrong/pollutedinformationfromtheirpeers.Ifyouthare

adequatelyinformed,theywouldmakegooddecisions.Youthseitheratschoolor

homeshouldnotbeleftuncheckedbutshouldbepositivelyoccupiedacademically,

recreationallyorspirituallysoastomakeeffectiveuseoftheirtime.Thisbecomes

necessarybecauseidlemindisadevil’sworkshop.

9

Counsellorsshouldworkincollaborationwithparents,non-governmental

organizations,religiousandcommunityleaderstoinculcatecommunityandnational

valuesintotheyouthfornationbuilding.Thedesireofeveryparentandthesocietyfor

theyouthisthatofbuildingadisciplined,goodanddesirablecharactertofitintothe

widersociety.Sinceunemploymentandpovertywereidentifiedassomeofthemajor

reasonsforyouthinvolvementinconflicts,governmentatalllevels,philanthropistsand

otherhighlyspiritedorcommunitybasedbigshortsshouldprovideemploymentor

somethingworthwhileforalivingtopositivelyengagetheyouth.Thisisnecessary

becauseasrightlyobservedbyUgwuegbulamandOkaforascitedbyMburza(2008),

mostfamiliesincontemporaryNigeriadonothaveenoughtocaterfortheirbasic

needs.Povertybreedshungerandstarvationwhicheventuallypredisposesmembers

ofsuchfamiliesespeciallytheyouthtoengaginginillegal,illicitandnumerousother

anti-socialgamesforsurvival.Thiscouldbemanifestedinstealing,drugaddictsand

intheendbecomesubjectstobeusedbythe“merchantsofviolence”fordestructive

purposes.

Counsellorsshouldinconjunctionwitheducationists,researchers,parents,

ministriesofeducation,youthanddevelopment,artsandculture,socialwelfare,non-

governmentalorganizations,religiousbasedorganizationsandcommunityleaders

organizeconferences,seminarsandworkshopsontheevilresultsofconflictsonthe

allrounddevelopmentoftheyouth,societyandthenationatlargeaswellasthe

negativitiesofinvolvingyouthinarmsconflictsbythepoliticalelitesor“merchantsof

violence”fortheirselfishinterest.Thecounsellorsshouldincollaborationwiththe

massmediaembarkonmassiveenlightenmentcampaignwiththemomentumofawar

throughtheprintandelectronicmedia(visualandblind),suchasNewspapers,

magazines,televisionandradiojinglesaswellasissuingouthandbills,posters,

organizingtheyouthtodisplaycards,stagedramas,organizingphone-incallsamong

othersonwhyyouthdelinquent/anti-socialbehavioursmustbetotallycurbedinthe

society.Thegovernmentatalllevels,parents/guardiansandotherstakeholdersshould

accordtheyouthnecessarycomforttheydeserve.

Conclusion

Basedonfindingsofthestudy,conflictshavedevastatingimpactonallrounds

developmentoftheyouthandthenationbyextension.Energyoftheyouthasvibrant

andfutureleadersismisdirectedbythe“merchantsofviolence”fortheirselfish

politicalgoalsresultinginmassivedestructionsoflivesandproperties,forceful

migration,impromptuclosureofacademicactivitiesandrenderingexodusofsurvivors

asrefugeesintheirfatherland.Unemployment,poorchildrearingpractices,exposure

tofirearms,proliferationofdrugsandpeerinfluenceweresomeofthereasonsfor

involvinginconflictsthus,theyouthshouldbeengagedinsomethingworthwhiletodo

foralivingandtheyouthshouldbeenlightenedontheevilsofconflictstothemselves,

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societyandthenationatlarge.

Recommendations

Basedonthefindingsofthestudy,itisrecommendedthat:

1.Governmentatalllevelsshouldprovidesomethingworthwhiletodoforthe

teamingyouthwiththeviewofcurtailingthemenaceofbeingshortlistedbythe

“merchantsofviolence”tocontinuetheirevils.

2.Peacestudiesandconflictresolutionsaswellasskillsacquisitionshouldbe

inculcatedintothecurriculumofsecondaryschoolsandtertiaryinstitutionsacrossthe

nationtoenabletheyouthdeveloptherightattitudes,valuesandskillsnecessaryfor

peacefulnationbuilding.

3.Counsellors should workin collaboration with parents,religious and

communityleaderstosensitizeandre-orientthe“mindset”oftheyouthawayfrom

violenttonon-violentmeansofresolvingconflicts.

4.Governmentshouldtrainandre-trainsecurityoperativesandpersonnelof

thedrugslawenforcementagencyinandaroundNigeria’sbordersonespeciallythe

rudimentsofbasicmonitoringandcontroloftheproliferationofdrugsandfirearms

throughtheporousborders.

5.Particularsofthoseinvolvedinillegalimportationofillicitdrugs,armsand

ammunitionsandenlistingyouthforevilpurposesshouldbepublishedperiodically.

Thenon-availabilityofsuchinformationonthe“sacredcows”fuelledthecontinuous

involvementoftheyouthfordestructivetendencies.

6.Governmentatalllevelsshouldincludetheyouthindecisionmaking

processesfornationbuildingespeciallyinmattersdirectlyorindirectlyaffectingthe

youth.Theyshouldalwaysbeconsideredaspartnersinprogressandtheirpotentials

shouldbeeffectivelyutilized.

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