ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF BANDITRY AND CIVIL UNREST IN NIGERIA THROUGH ADULT AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Nigeria’s escalating banditry and civil unrest reflect deep-seated socio-economic challenges that conventional security responses alone have failed to resolve. This paper advances the position that Adult and Non-Formal Education (ANFE) is a critical yet underutilised strategy for addressing the root causes of insecurity in the country. Persistent poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and skills deficits are identified as major drivers of banditry and social instability. This paper argues that targeted adult and non-formal education interventions can mitigate these conditions by equipping adults with functional literacy, vocational competencies, and life skills necessary for economic self-reliance and civic participation. Beyond economic empowerment, adult education fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution capacities that strengthen social cohesion and promote peaceful coexistence within communities. Drawing on qualitative evidence from stakeholders including adult learners, educators, and community leaders, the paper demonstrates that adult and non-formal education contributes to reduced vulnerability to criminal activity, enhanced community resilience, and improved prospects for sustainable peace. It therefore contends that addressing insecurity in Nigeria requires a shift from predominantly reactive security measures to preventive, education-driven development strategies.