Non-State Security Actors and Rural Community Development in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

Non-State security actors are organised agitating armed groups that operate in the Niger Delta region as social movements to express their anger, sometimes violently arising from the perceived frustration and marginalisation by the Nigerian State and its agents in the region. They are classified into three groups, the militia groups, the cult groups, and gangs, who operate independently in the region. This research is aimed at identifying the characteristics and activities of the non-state security actors and their impact on development trajectory of their host communities. The study is carried out in the Niger Delta communities within the period of 2000-2017. We adopted frustration-aggression theory as our theoretical framework of analysis. Primary and secondary sources of data were generated, and analysed to achieve the objectives of the study. In our findings, we noted that the non-state security actors have some basic characteristics that are peculiar to them in the region. They aim at demanding for equitable distribution of the State resources for the development of the rural communities in the region. In the process, they carry out several activities to achieve their aim. Regrettably, these activities of the non-state security actors have more negative than positive impact on the rural communities in the region. The study proffered strategies to curb the activities of the non-state security actors to enhance rural community development.

Key words: Non-State Security Actors, rural community development, Niger Delta, frustration, aggression