Global Journal of Economic and Finance Research

This research examines how insecurity impacts specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria, with a focus on poverty alleviation (SDG 1), hunger eradication (SDG 2), and the promotion of peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16). Employing a mixed-methods design, the study integrated survey questionnaires distributed to 400 households alongside Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Quantitative data were processed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and cross-tabulations, while qualitative discussions provided detailed insights into the experiences of affected households. The results indicate that insecurity—manifesting through banditry, kidnappings, and conflicts between farmers and herders—has significantly disrupted agricultural practices, led to household displacements, and hindered access to livelihoods, thereby aggravating rural poverty. Women and youth were particularly impacted, facing heightened vulnerabilities in their livelihoods, increasing food insecurity, and restricted access to socio-economic opportunities. Chi-square analyses revealed substantial relationships between displacement status and livelihood activities, underscoring the impact of insecurity on altering rural economic conditions. FGDs revealed coping mechanisms, including dependence on casual labour, community support, and migration; however, these strategies mainly were unsustainable. The research concludes that insecurity hampers advancement towards the SDGs in Chikun LGA by deteriorating food systems, intensifying poverty, and weakening local institutions. It suggests implementing community-based resilience strategies, fortifying peacebuilding efforts, increasing security presence, and providing targeted livelihood assistance—especially for women and youth—to restore stability and progress toward fulfilling the SDGs in conflict-affected communities.  

Insecurity, Sustainable Development Goals, Rural Poverty, Livelihoods, Displacement, Agriculture, Chikun LGA, Kaduna State, Human Security, Resilience

1. Abiola, T. O., Magaji, S., & Musa, I. (2025). Impact of Climate Change on Human Security among Vulnerable Indigenous Groups in Kaduna State, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Human Ecology and Nature Studies, 13(2), 80–97. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15529981
2. Adamu, A., & Rasheed, A. (2016). Insecurity and socio-economic development in Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 7(2), 25–33.
3. Adekoya, A. A., Magaji, S., & Ismail, Y. (2025). Impact of insecurity on economic growth in Nigeria: 1990–2023. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 12(4), 1258–1271. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12040146
4. Adelaja, A., & George, J. (2019). Effects of conflict on agriculture: Evidence from the Boko Haram insurgency. World Development, 117, 184–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.01.010
5. Ajaero, C. K., Okoro, J. I., & Nzeadibe, T. C. (2019). Impacts of Insecurity on Livelihood Activities in Rural Nigeria. Journal of Rural Studies, 67, 62–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.02.011
6. Akinyemi, O., & Olaniyan, O. (2020). Rural poverty and the dynamics of conflict in Nigeria. African Security Review, 29(3), 257–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2020.1788397
7. Amadi, S., & Alabi, J. (2021). Household vulnerability and livelihood adaptation in conflict-prone communities of Kaduna State. African Journal of Development Studies, 13(2), 45–59.
8. Amadi, S., & Alabi, V. (2021). Insecurity and food crisis in Nigeria: The role of agricultural policy. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 23(4), 112–126.
9. Audu, A. (2020). Rural insecurity and the political economy of armed banditry in Northern Nigeria. African Security Review, 29(2), 123–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2020.1784675
10. Audu, M. (2020). Farmer–herder conflicts and rural livelihood challenges in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Journal of Rural Studies, 76, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.04.005
11. Blench, R. (2017). Pastoralism in West Africa: Challenges to sustainability. Cambridge University Press.
12. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
13. Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
14. Buhaug, H., & von Uexkull, N. (2021). Climate change and armed conflict: Empirical findings and future priorities. Annual Review of Political Science, 24, 319–339. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-041719-102904
15. Chambers, R., & Conway, G. (1992). Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21st century (IDS Discussion Paper No. 296). Institute of Development Studies.
16. Coser, L. (1956). The functions of social conflict. Free Press.
17. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage.
18. Enaberue, E., Musa, I., & Magaji, S. (2024). Impact of income inequality on poverty level in Nigeria: Evidence from ARDL model. Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting, 24(5), 86–98. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJEBA/2024/v24i52495
19. Ezeonu, I., & Kelikume, I. (2021). Conflict, Insecurity, and Human Development in Nigeria. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 16(2), 143–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/15423166211012549
20. Fagbemi, F., Ojo, A., & Oladipo, S. (2021). Insecurity and Agricultural Value Chains in Northern Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 25(3), 77–90.
21. Flick, U. (2018). An introduction to qualitative research (6th ed.). Sage.
22. Food and Agriculture Organisation. (2022). Nigeria: Food security outlook. FAO. https://www.fao.org
23. Idemudia, U. (2020). Natural resources, insecurity, and development in Africa: Rethinking the resource curse. Resources Policy, 68, 101760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101760
24. International Crisis Group. (2021). Violence in Nigeria’s North West: Rolling back the mayhem (Africa Report No. 288). https://www.crisisgroup.org
25. Jafaru, Y., Magaji, S., & Abdullahi, I. A. (2024). Poverty, family status, and crime: Insights from Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 5(5), 6745–6755.
26. Lamiya, N. I., Magaji, S., & Yakubu, J. (2025). Assessment of child labour and trafficking in Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(6), 708–717.
27. Magaji, S., & Musa, I. (2024). Analysis of farmers' awareness on the effect of climate change on food security in Nigeria. International Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Management, 4(3), 439–454.
28. Magaji, S., & Yahaya, H. (2012). Portrait of low savings in Africa. Second Congress of African Economists, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Available at: pages.au.int/.../Magaji_S
29. Magaji, S., & Yisa, S. (2023). The Impact of Agricultural Loans by Deposit Money Banks on Agricultural Output in Nigeria. International Journal of Indonesian Business Review, 2(2), 194–204.
30. Magaji, S. (2002). Towards a gender model of poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Research and Development in Africa, 1(1), 81–89.
31. Magaji, S. (2007). Poverty as a factor of child labour in developing countries. Abuja Journal of Sociological Studies, 3(1), 66–81.
32. Magaji, S. (2008). Family Poverty and Child Schooling in Abuja: Intervention Areas for Sustainable Development. Nigerian Journal of Educational Administration and Planning, 8(3), 351–367.
33. Magaji, S., Ahmad, A. I., Sabiu, S. B., & Yunusa, A. A. (2024). From deforestation to pollution: Unravelling environmental challenges in Nigeria and Pakistan. International Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Management, 4(2), 805–814.
34. Magaji, S., Usman, G., & Yusuf, A. T. (2023). Impact of Commercial Banks' Loans on Agricultural Output in Nigeria. Journal of Studies in Social Sciences, 22(20).
35. Magaji, S., Yahaya, I., & Musa, I. (2025). The role of population dynamics in advancing sustainable economic growth: A study aligned with SDG 8 in Nigeria. 2nd International Conference of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, July 30–August 1, 2025.
36. Maxwell, D., Stites, E., Robillard, S., & Wagner, M. (2016). Conflict and food security in South Sudan: A call for action. World Food Programme & Tufts University.
37. Muhammed, A. A., Magaji, S., & Ismail, Y. (2025). Examining the challenges hindering the performance of women entrepreneurs in Kogi State. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, 8(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.52589/IJEBI.EIACNM6Z
38. Musa, I., Magaji, S., & Jafaru, Y. (2024). Influence of household income on child labour and child trafficking in Nigeria. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(5), 4488–4502.
39. Muye, A. M., Magaji, S., & Ismail, Y. (2025). Impact of real sector on the economic development of Nigeria: Perception approach. African Journal of Business and Economic Development, 5(4), 38–58. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15609472
40. National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 2019 poverty and inequality in Nigeria: Executive summary. NBS.
41. National Population Commission. (2006). Population and housing census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2006. NPC.
42. Obehi, A. P., Magaji, S., & Ahmad, A. I. (2024). Exploring the impact of household income on child labour and trafficking in Suleja, Niger State. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 12(4).
43. Okoli, A. C., & Iortyer, P. V. (2014). Terrorism and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria: Insights from Boko Haram insurgency. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: F Political Science, 14(1), 39–49.
44. Okoli, A. C., & Lenshie, N. E. (2018). Terrorism and counterterrorism in Nigeria: Theoretical and empirical perspectives. African Security Review, 27(1), 38–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2017.1422313
45. Pain, A., & Huot, D. (2017). Conflict, migration, and rural livelihoods in Afghanistan. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) Working Paper Series.
46. Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.
47. Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd
48. Umar, A., & Gubbin, D. (2020). Insecurity and Food Security in Nigeria: Challenges for Sustainable Development. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 22(4), 53–67.
49. United Nations Development Programme. (1994). Human development report 1994: New dimensions of human security. Oxford University Press.
50. World Bank. (2020). Poverty and equity brief: Nigeria. World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org
51. Yakubu, J., Magaji, D. A., & Magaji, S. (2025). Assessing the socio-economic impact of climate change and poverty in Birnin Kudu Local Government, Jigawa State, Nigeria. African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 8(2), 11–31.
52. Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row.
53. Yunusa, A. A., Magaji, S., Ahmad, A. I., Yakubu, J., & Obehi, A. P. (2024). Underlying factors affecting child labour and child trafficking in Suleja, Niger State. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 5(4), 3410–3425.
54. Zailani, H. S., Magaji, S., & Jafaru, Y. (2025). Examining the methods in achieving effective conflict resolution and peace-building in North East Nigeria. GAS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(5), 12–18.