BANDITRY AS A MENACE TO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND PANACEA

This study investigates banditry as a menace to Hospitality and Tourism industry in Benue State:
causes, effects and panacea. In doing justice to this study the following specific objective were
examined: firstly, to determine the influence of ethno-religious-induced banditry on hospitality and
tourism industry in Benue State, secondly, to examine the influence of political-induced banditry on
hospitality and tourism industry in Benue State and finally to examine the influence of nomadic freerange grazing-induced banditry on hospitality and tourism industry in Benue State. The study employed
the survey research method for collecting primary data through the administration of questionnaire.
Secondary data were collected from relevant material such as textbooks, journal articles, seminar
papers, and periodicals. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population and the
sample for this study was drawn from staff of Benue State Tourism Bureau and hotel staff in Benue
State through a stratified random sampling technique. The state was stratified along the 18 local
government areas and eight hotel staff were randomly selected from different hotels in each local
government area, thus, making a total of 184 hotel staff. Hence, 184 hotel staff were selected for the
study. Also, 36 staff of Benue State Tourism Bureau were selected using a simple random sampling. In
all, a total of 220 respondents were administered with questionnaires out of which 180 returned. Data
obtained were analyzed using mean score and standard deviation. Any mean score lower than 2.50
implied disagree while equal to or higher than 2.50 implied agree to the items. Multiple regression
statistics was used in testing the null hypotheses. The research findings indicate that the three tables
highlight the significant negative impact of ethno-religious, political, and nomadic free-range grazinginduced banditry on the hospitality and tourism industry in Benue State, with grand means indicating
strong consensus among respondents (3.72, 3.66, and 3.69). Ethno-religious banditry leads to reduced
tourist inflow, destroyed infrastructure, and increased insecurity for workers, aligning with Williams’
Ethno-Religious Conflict Theory. Political instability similarly creates an unsafe environment,
discouraging investment and business operations, consistent with Kalyvas’ Political Disempowerment
Theory. Additionally, nomadic herder conflicts disrupt rural tourism and business sustainability,
supported by Waria’s Nomadic Pastoralism Theory. The study emphasizes the need for policy measures
to address these root causes, such as promoting inter-ethnic dialogue, improving governance, and
sustainable resource management, to restore Benue State's tourism appeal. The study therefore made
the following recommendations to address the challenges posed by ethno-religious, political, and
nomadic free-range grazing-induced banditry on the hospitality and tourism industry in Benue State,
the following recommendations were proposed, firstly, facilitate peace-building initiatives involving
traditional leaders, religious authorities, and local government to address tensions between ethnic andreligious groups, fostering mutual understanding to improve safety and restore tourist confidence.
Secondly, the state government should enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and strengthen law
enforcement. Implementing security measures in tourist areas and supporting hospitality businesses
with operational costs will help sustain the industry and enhance Benue State’s image as a safe
destination. Thirdly, adopt strategies to manage land resources effectively, establish designated
grazing reserves, and promote dialogue between pastoralists and farmers to reduce conflicts, ensuring
safer rural areas for tourism and supporting the hospitality sector's sustainability.