The Roles of Community Development Workers in Tackling Kidnapping and Banditry in Northern, Nigeria: A Panacea to Challenges of Insecurity on Nigerian Education

Abstract

The study examined the roles of community development workers in tackling kidnapping and banditry in Northern Nigeria as a panacea to challenges of insecurity in the Nigerian educational system. The research was based on a review of related literature on concepts of community development, community development workers, kidnapping/banditry, and insecurity. Furthermore, the consequences of insecurity on the educational system in Northern Nigeria and the roles of community development workers in tackling kidnapping and banditry in Northern Nigeria were also reviewed. The outcome of the research indicated that community development workers can play a key role in tackling kidnapping and banditry in Northern Nigeria by strengthening capacity, sensitisation and awareness level, advocacy campaign, help mobilisation of funds and resources, and provision of counselling services and psychosocial therapy, respectively, to the affected communities. Hence, the paper recommends that educational institutions, government, and non-governmental organisations should create a value-adding and win-win relationship that will foster and strengthen the concepts, practices, theories, and philosophies of community development in response to security challenges in Northern Nigeria. It is further recommended that there be compulsory counselling services for both students, teachers, and parents on security, morality, professional ethics, and good conduct in not only the educational system but also in the community. Finally, it is recommended that scholars should undertake a robust and well-attuned research study on any of the above-mentioned roles of community development workers in tackling insecurity in Nigeria using different methodologies, samples, and scopes.