Addressing Armed Banditry Conflict through Interactive Problem Solving and Emotion Regulation in North West Geo-political Zone Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of psychological interventions of interactive problem solving and emotion regulation in addressing armed banditry conflict in North West geo-political zone, Nigeria focusing on its effect on the need for national security in Nigeria. A quasi experimental design involving pre-test, post-test control group was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to draw only thirty (30) inmates charged with armed banditry across Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states. The intervention process lasted for 12 weeks as a way of de-radicalization. In Sokoto state NSCDC cell was used for pilot testing using 20 inmates charged with banditry. 10 bandits were exposed to interactive problem solving and another 10 for emotion regulation interventions.  In Katsina and Zamfara states interventions took place in the Nigerian Correctional Center facilities where 10 bandits in each had interactive problem solving and emotion regulation respectively. Crime and Violence Scale (developed by Conrad, K. J. et al.; 2010) was used to identify bandits with high criminal tendencies while Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS developed by Walters, 1998) was used for pre-test post-test. The hypotheses were tested using paired sample t-test and Independent t-test. Results of the study revealed significant effect of interactive problem-solving on criminal tendencies toward armed banditry conflict in North West geo-political zone Nigeria (p=0.01, t=6.21) and significant effect of emotion regulation on criminal tendencies toward armed banditry conflict in North West geo-political zone Nigeria (p=0.00, t=13.31). It is concluded that there is a greater chance for bandits to repent when exposed to psychological interventions in resolving the armed banditry conflict. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the North West state governments hire experts (from the fields of psychology) who will mediate armed banditry conflict resolution. In peace deals, interactive problem-solving should be a routine program involving representatives of the victims and those of the bandits through a disinterested party. It is also recommended that government avoid cash rewards in peace deals and instead focus on the mental health and negative emotions of the bandits, as that would cut a lot of government expenses in maintaining internally displaced persons camps (IDPs).