Impact of Poverty on Security Threats in Doma, Toto and Akwanga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State

Abstract

The level of security threats in Doma, Toto and Akwanga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State continues to be deteriorated by increase in the level of poverty in the local government areas. The goal of the paper is to examine of the impact of poverty on security in Doma and Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa State., the paper was based on human needs theory. Data for the study were collected from the primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected using 5-Point Likert Questionnaire administered to 400 respondents from a population of 600,326 comprising staff of Nigerian Police Force, Doma, Toto and Akwanga Commands, residents of Doma, Toto, and Akwanga Local Government Areas, Social Welfare Offices in Doma, Toto, and Akwanga Local Government Area of the State. Data from questionnaire were analysed using percentages and frequency counts. Secondary data was gathered through journals, books, and internet resources on data related to insecurity and poverty of Nasarawa State residents. The analysis of the data gathered from the secondary sources employed a relational-content analysis technique as well as a textual analysis approach. Findings showed that poverty is largely responsible for increase in security threats in Akwanga, Toto, and Doma Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State as well as inadequate government responses to the challenge of poverty is responsible for increase in security threats in Akwanga, Toto, and Doma Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. Among other things, it is recommended that given the inadequate government responses to the challenge of poverty for improved security in Akwanga, Toto, and Doma Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, the government should increase its budgets to people-oriented projects which would curb poverty at individual level as well as reduce crime rate in the local government areas.