THE IMPACT OF INSECURITY ON ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN KATSINA, ZAMFARA, AND NIGER STATES
A Report
Highlights
Insecurity has become one of the most urgent challenges facing development and human security in Nigeria, especially in the Northern region. Katsina, Zamfara, and Niger States have seen a disturbing rise in armed violence, banditry, abductions, and communal conflicts in recent years. These security issues have not only disrupted lives and livelihoods but also strained social cohesion, displaced communities,
and hindered access to basic services like education, healthcare, and socio-economic opportunities.
This study was commissioned to provide a deeper understanding of the multifaceted impacts of insecurity in these three states. Drawing on firsthand accounts, data from affected communities, and inputs from key stakeholders, the report offers evidence-based insights into the human, social, and economic consequences of ongoing insecurity. It also highlights the coping strategies adopted by communities and provides recommendations for targeted interventions by government, development partners, and civil society actors.
The findings in this report are both sobering and instructive. They reaffirm the urgent need for a coordinated, inclusive, and sustained response to the causes and effects of insecurity. More importantly, they highlight the resilience of communities that, despite adversity and disruption to schooling, continue to seek alternate pathways to ensure the continuation of learning.
