IMPACT OF BANDITRY ON STUDENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ON CURRICULUM DELIVERY IN UPPER BASIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA
1 Department of Curriculum and Educational Technology, Federal University of Education, Kontagora Niger State, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: babangidayaki98@gmail.com
* Corresponding author: babangidayaki98@gmail.com
Abstract
This study examined the impact of banditry on students’ psychological well-being and school attendance and its
implications for curriculum delivery in upper basic schools in North-West Nigeria. The study was guided by two
objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The
population comprised 1,265,457 teachers, students and Quality Assurance officials, from which a sample of 384
respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated
questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.819. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research
questions, while the Kruskal–Wallis H test was employed to test hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance.
Findings revealed that banditry significantly affects students’ psychological well-being, resulting in fear, anxiety,
trauma and reduced concentration in learning. It also significantly disrupts school attendance due to insecurity,
fear of attacks and school closures. The results further showed significant differences in perceptions among
respondent groups. The study concluded that the combined effects of psychological distress and irregular
attendance undermine effective curriculum delivery. It recommends that; psychosocial support services, improved
school security, attendance recovery programmes, and strengthened policy implementation to ensure continuity
of education in conflict-affected areas.
implications for curriculum delivery in upper basic schools in North-West Nigeria. The study was guided by two
objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The
population comprised 1,265,457 teachers, students and Quality Assurance officials, from which a sample of 384
respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated
questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.819. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research
questions, while the Kruskal–Wallis H test was employed to test hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance.
Findings revealed that banditry significantly affects students’ psychological well-being, resulting in fear, anxiety,
trauma and reduced concentration in learning. It also significantly disrupts school attendance due to insecurity,
fear of attacks and school closures. The results further showed significant differences in perceptions among
respondent groups. The study concluded that the combined effects of psychological distress and irregular
attendance undermine effective curriculum delivery. It recommends that; psychosocial support services, improved
school security, attendance recovery programmes, and strengthened policy implementation to ensure continuity
of education in conflict-affected areas.
Keywords
Banditry
psychological wellbeing
School attendance
Upper Basic Schools.
References
- Adeniyi, O. (2018, April 5). Beyond the banditry in Zamfara. ThisDay. [https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/05/beyond-the-banditry-zamfara](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/05/beyond-the-banditry-zamfara)
- Adetunji, A. O. (2025). Insecurity and its effects on students’ attendance, enrolment, and assessment practices in selected Nigerian states. Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies, 14(1), 45–62.
- Akorede, S. N., Ajayi, A., Toyin, A., & Uwadia, G. (2021). Influence of COVID-19 on the psychological wellbeing of tertiary institution students in Nigeria. Tanzania Journal of Science, 47(1), 70–79.
- Akorede, S. N., Akorede, A. A., Isiaq, A. T., & Yusuf I. S. (2022). Influence of demographic characteristics on family planning adoption among females in Samaru, Kaduna State. Kampala International University Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 3(1), 1-12. [http://dx.doi.org/10.59568/KIJHUS-2022-3-1-01](https://www.google.com/search?q=http://dx.doi.org/10.59568/KIJHUS-2022-3-1-01)
- Akorede, S. N., Dayil, B. K., Akorede, A. A., & Isiaq, A. T. (2022). Assessment of knowledge of malnutrition among Mothers of Under-5 in Sabon Gari Zaria. Alhikmah Journal of Business Education, 2(1), 17-21.
- Akorede, S. N., Usman, U., Isiaq A. T., & Isiya, G. (2022). A review of health implication of kidnapping in Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research in Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(1), 67-72.
- Alexander, D. A., & Klein, S. (2009). Kidnapping and hostage-taking: A review of effects, coping and resilience. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 102(1), 16–21. [https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.080347](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.080347)
- AP News. (2025). Mass abduction of students in northern Nigeria highlights deepening insecurity. Associated Press. [https://apnews.com](https://apnews.com)
- Apsari, Y. (2018). Teachers’ problems and solutions in implementing Curriculum 2013. Acuity: Journal of English Language Pedagogy, Literature and Culture, 3(1), 11–23.
- Chabal, P. (2018). Violence, power and rationality: A political analysis of conflict in contemporary Africa. In P. Chabal, U. Engel, & A. Gentili (Eds.), Is violence inevitable? Theories of conflict and approaches to conflict prevention (pp. 1–8).
- Danjumma, S. A., Aliyu, M. A., & Aliero, H. M. (2025). Banditry and its effects on students’ school attendance in Sakaba Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria. African Journal of Educational Management, 19(1), 88–102.
- Dollard, J., Miller, N. E., Doob, L. W., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. Yale University Press.
- Fatai, K., Oba, A. I., Muhammed, A. O., Afolabi, K. O., Shuaib, S. B., & Jimoh, S. B. (2021). Teachers’ perception on factors affecting effective teaching and learning of agricultural science in secondary schools in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. African Journal of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, 7(2), 88–94.
- Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2014). National policy on education (6th ed.). Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.
- Human Rights Watch. (2018). “They set the classrooms on fire”: Attacks on education in northeast Nigeria. Human Rights Watch. [https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/11/they-set-classrooms-fire/attacks-education-northeast-nigeria](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/11/they-set-classrooms-fire/attacks-education-northeast-nigeria)
- Iweze, D. O. (2019). Economic and social implication of Boko Haram insurgency in Kano since 2012 [Conference paper]. International Network of Genocide Scholars 4th Global Conference on Genocide, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
- Nicholas, C. M. A., & Shuaibu, F. (2019). Influence of insecurity on the emotional behaviour of secondary school students in North Eastern States of Nigeria. Journal of Physical Education Research, 6(4).
- Obilo, P. I., & Saugoleye, S. A. (2015). Curriculum implementation and the teacher: Challenges and way forward.
- Offorma, G. C. (2019). Curriculum for wealth creation. WCCI 3rd Biennial Seminar Lecture, Federal College of Education, Kano, Nigeria.
- Reuters. (2026). School closures persist in Nigeria’s northwest amid rising bandit attacks. Reuters. [https://www.reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com)
- UNESCO. (2019). Education in emergencies: Building resilience through education. UNESCO.
- UNICEF Nigeria. (2025). Education under attack: Impact of insecurity on schooling in North-West Nigeria. UNICEF. [https://www.unicef.org/nigeria](https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Fnigeria)
How to Cite
YAKI, B. (2026). IMPACT OF BANDITRY ON STUDENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ON CURRICULUM DELIVERY IN UPPER BASIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA. Journal of Educational Research and Development, 21(2), 90 - 100.
B. YAKI, "IMPACT OF BANDITRY ON STUDENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ON CURRICULUM DELIVERY IN UPPER BASIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA," Journal of Educational Research and Development, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 90 - 100, June 2026.
