Prevalence and Consequences of Insecurity on Livelihood of Rural Households in Enugu State: Implication for e-Extension in Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the prevalence and consequences of insecurity on livelihoods of rural households in Enugu State, Nigeria. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 108 respondents from nine communities for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with mean and percentages. The study revealed that looting of farm produce (54.6%), communal fights (76.9%), armed robbery (51.9%), rape (50.7%), kidnapping (58.3%) and cultism (65.7%) were the forms of insecurity prevalent in the study area. The result further reveals that poor road network (?̅ = 3.3), corruption (?̅ = 3.2), poor security system (?̅ = 3.2), absence of basic infrastructural facilities (?̅ = 3.2), feeling of marginalization (?̅ = 3.1), grazing on arable cropland (?̅ = 3.1), rural poverty (?̅ = 3.1) and high level of rural unemployment (?̅ = 3.1) were perceived to be immediate causes of rural insecurity Loss of livelihoods/income (?̅ = 3.5), loss of lives (?̅ = 3.4), disruption of supply and distribution of agricultural inputs and outputs (?̅ = 3.4), destruction of crops (?̅ = 3.3), displacement of households (?̅ = 3.2), prevention of farming activities (?̅ = 3.1) and decline in patronage of commercial riders (?̅ = 3.1) were the major consequences of rural insecurity. Insecurity had negative consequences on the rural livelihoods in Enugu State, and thus, efforts should be made by security agencies in reduction or curbing occurrences of insecurities in the State.