Global Insecurities: Challenges and the ways forward

slow-down socio-economic development and political stability in some countries of West Africa. Nigeria is one of the notable countries that have been grappling with insurgency, banditry, and militant activities. The country is beset with a lot of security problems such as Boko Haram, militancy, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and other forms of criminality that erode the country’s security.  The various factors and/or actors that have exacerbated the fragile security situation in West Africa and Nigeria, in particular, are firmly rooted in the ‘scarcely governed’ nature of the country. The persistent security threats posed by the activities of different individuals and groups often take the form of banditry and cattle rustling which is now transforming towards reappraisal attacks and counter-attacks.  Over the years, the security in the region has deteriorated due to certain changes in the ecosystem which affected peoples’ livelihoods negatively. This exacerbates long-running competitions among farmers and herders as both groups began to mobilised various armed groups as ‘vigilantes’ for protection.