Dr Grace Onyowo Ugboha & Diana Gunggung Munidang
Abstract
This paper examined the nature, consequences and prevention of armed banditry in Nigeria, and the implications of these to counselling. Banditry which is the prevalence of violent crimes involves the use of force to intimidate a person with the intention to rob, rape or kill. Banditry is a serious crime that poses a security challenge to the existence of the country, Nigeria. Nigeria’s bandits are rural gangs that engage in criminal activities such as cattle rustling, looting of villages, extortion of money and kidnapping for ransoms. The prevalence of banditry in Nigeria appears to have been high and rising over the years. The paper considered the nature, consequences and prevention of armed banditry in Nigeria, and highlighted the counselling implications of these. Recommendations made include formation of formidable community police, fair sharing of dividends of democracy, deportation of these foreigners back to their various countries, and addressing the issue of illegal mining. Also, counsellors are required to be accustomed with psychological and counselling techniques, which can be used in helping banditry victims psychologically in order to enable them come out of the trauma and pain they passed through, among others.