INSECURITY AND FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF APA LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF BENUE STATE

Abstract

The study investigated Insecurity and food security in Nigeria: A Study of Apa Local Government of Benue State. The study examined the nature and patterns of insecurity experienced in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State and assessed the impact of insecurity on agricultural production and food availability in the study area and two research questions were formulated. The researcher made use of descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 1,500, A sample of 150 respondents was selected using a multistage sampling technique. The main instruments for data collection were structured questionnaire and interview, titled “Insecurity the Bane of Food Insecurity Questionnaire (IBFIQ)” Data were collected through field administration of questionnaires with the assistance of trained research assistants, quantitative data collected through questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentage, and standard deviation) and inferential with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Qualitative data obtained from interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. The result of the study showed among other that there is High Prevalence of Insecurity, these forms of insecurity have created widespread fear, disrupted social and economic life, and significantly destabilized rural livelihoods, severe Impact on Agricultural Activities, Insecurity has directly affected farming, with 80% of respondents abandoning their farmlands, while 68% reported reducing the size of cultivated land due to fear of attacks and disruption of Food Access and Availability, the study found that 75% of respondents experienced sharp increases in food prices, and 65% could no longer access local markets due to insecurity. In light of the findings, which reveal that insecurity significantly undermines food production, disrupts rural livelihoods, and endangers educational outcomes, the following recommendations among others are proposed: Strengthen Local and National Security Measures: There is a critical need for both state and federal governments to prioritize rural security, particularly in food-producing areas like Apa LGA, Promote Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Long-term peace is necessary for sustained food production and community development. The government, NGOs, and traditional institutions should.