Youth Unemployment: The Cause of Ethnic Conflict and Criminal Activities in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State Nigeria

Abstract

This research work examined youth unemployment: the cause of ethnic conflict and criminal activities in Takum LGA of Taraba State, Nigeria. Unemployment to a large extent remains Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problem. Historically, unemployment situation in the country was heightened by introduction of structural adjustment programme (SAP). Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were employed for the success of the research work. Simple percentages were applied on a cross-sectional data of 120 sampled unemployed youths randomly selected from Takum Local Government Area in 2015. The study revealed that lack of employment opportunities stimulate young people to engage in ethnic conflict and criminal activities such as theft, arm robbery etc. In order to survive and earn material success. The study recommends that government should create more jobs opportunities and industries as unemployed youths can also benefit and meet their immediate needs, as this will drastically curtail ethnic conflict and criminal activities by unemployed youths