Public Perception Of The Challenges Of The Internally Displaced Persons And The Creation Of Criminal Groups In Bakassi Local Government Area Of Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the public perception of the challenges of the Internally Displaced Person and the creation of criminal groups in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria’. The study is aimed at assessing the effect of relative deprivation, poverty and unemployment among Internally Displaced Person and the formation of criminal groups. To achieve these core objectives, three hypotheses were formulated in line with the sub-variables of the study. The study is eclectic in terms of its theoretical framework as such relative deprivation and frustration aggression theories were both exploited for the study. Cross-sectional research design was exploited for the study. The population of the study comprises of all the inhabitants and the Internally Displaced Person in Bakassi Local Government Area and the sample size was 400. Questionnaire and unstructured interview was the main instrument used for data collection. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Analysis. The finding of the study reveals that there is significant relationship between relative deprivation, abject poverty, and unemployment among Internally Displaced Person and the creation of criminal groups in the study area. Therefore, the study concluded that relative deprivation, abject poverty and unemployment correlate with the creation of criminal groups in the study population. Arising from the findings, the study recommend that, the government should endeavour to increase its funding of the IDPs and also ensure that relief materials or funds received for the benefit of IDPs are well managed and transparently distributed to them this will help in promoting sustainable livelihood and curb to a greater extent the problem of relative deprivation, abject poverty and unemployment which will help insulate Internally Displaced Person from crime and criminality.