Poverty, Communal Conflicts and Rural Community Development in Nigeria: The Ndiagu Amagu Erim-Ogwudu Ikwo of Ebonyi State in Perspective

Abstract

Nigerian state has been plagued by escalating conflicts which several scholars have attributed
their causes to various reasons that do not warrant people engaging in wanton killings and
destruction of property. This study examines poverty, communal conflicts and its consequences
on rural community development in Nigeria, with a focus on rural communities of Ndiagu
Amagu Erim-Ogwudu Communities in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria.
The theory that anchored the study is the Frustration-Aggression theory while quantitative
research design which made use of survey method was employed to accomplish the purpose of
the study. The data for the study were collected through structured questionnaire items and focus
group discussion. The respondents were purposively selected from the study area. The findings
show that poverty is the major cause of communal conflict in Ndiagu Amagu Erim-Ogwudu
communities with the use of the idle youths. It equally shows that communal conflicts
occasioned by poverty has dare consequences for the development of the rural communities
affected, as it has disenabled both the communities, local and state governments from delivering
socio-economic and infrastructural facilities to these communities. The paper recommends
among other things that governments at all levels should engage the youths in a productive and
skills manpower development to eradicate poverty as a human security measure while the elites
who take advantage of these poor youths to champion their selfish interest should be prosecuted
whenever found culpable. There should equally be enlightenment programmes to educate the
community dwellers about the consequences of communal conflicts among others.