Factors Responsible For Youth Radicalization in Yobe State, Nigeria: Causes, Consequences and De-Radicalization Strategies

The objective of this research is to investigate the factors responsible for youth radicalization in Yobe State, Nigeria. The study adopted social structure and anomie theory. A sample size of 315 respondents was selected through multi-stage sampling which includes; cluster sampling, purposive sampling, simple random sampling technique for qualitative data, and quantitative data were collected through questionnaire and in-depth interview respectively. Thus, the analysis was mixed method. The study found out that the extent of youth radicalization in Yobe State is very high because more youths are being recruited. Illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, religious manipulation, globalisation, unemployment, injustice and political interests are some of the factors that motivated the youths to join radicalized groups. Consequences of youth radicalization include; destruction of lives, valuable properties, displacement of families and widespread public panic. To address youth radicalization in Yobe State, the study recommended that education, enlightenment, provision of employment, protecting the youths from extremist views spread by less knowledgeable preachers, community policing, guidance and counseling of arrested radicalized youths and use of intelligence gathering safeguard the border from foreign influences.