Indonesia Conference Directory

The menace of armed bandits has in recent times assumed a devastating dimension and as such, a source of concern to all and sundry especially with its attendant socio-economic implications on the people. Relying on the use of secondary sources of data as well as narrative analysis in the presentation, the paper attempts an overview of the genesis of armed banditry in the area as well as their activities and mode of operation which have assumed complex dimensions in recent times vis a vis the likely effect of this phenomenon on food security in the area. A major finding of the study among others is that as a result of the rampant kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling, looting, rape and other nefarious activities of the bandits which have made several areas unsafe for habitation, whole communities have been displaced and have had to relocate to other seemingly safer locations thereby giving rise to the proliferation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. The paper asserts that the massive displacement of the people who are predominantly farmers will in the long run lead to decreasing farming/agricultural activities thereby hampering food production and animal husbandry and ultimately, food security. The paper recommends among others a holistic and concerted approach to routing out the bandits through developing the needed political will by the political class to address the issue, proper intelligence gathering approach, deployment of well-equipped and technologically driven security paraphernalia which will herald the resettlement of the displaced persons in their communities.