A WEB OF CRIMES, ROUTINE ACTIVITY THEORY AND THE DEEPENING SCOURGE OF ARMED BANDITRY IN NIGERIA

The incidence of banditry in Nigeria has assumed an unprecedented mien which constitutes a major bane to the hitherto troubled security country. phenomenon created multi-pronged challenge that amplified spate destruction life and property displacement. Meanwhile, inchoate nascent erudition is still associated with Nigeria. Thus, this study attempts satiate lacuna by annotating from Routine Activity Theory standpoint. adopts descriptive analytical armchair analysis relies on secondary source data. found out menace prevalent Nigeria, particularly Northwest. Some methods favoured bandits include armed robbery, cattle rustling, arson, sexual violence, kidnapping, raiding villages schools, looting, stealing livestock gruesome killing. attributable conflicts between farmers herders for scarce resources, influx Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) into overwhelmed, weak understaffed apparatus, illegal mining, slow response poor engagement Nigerian government, vast ungoverned forest territory. To adequately address recommends prevention strategy focuses three areas identified Theory: motivated offender, suitable target, absence guardianship