TERRORIZED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN NIGERIA AND PERCEPTION OF TERRORISM

Abstract

The study is on terrorized indigenous people in Nigeria and perception of terrorism. High incidence of terrorism in Nigeria and its various judgmental issues motivated the study, using 106 participants (mean age of 25 years) sampled through hybrid/multisystem techniques. Participants had Gender (male = 50, female = 56); education level (postgraduate = 1, first degree = 68, secondary/primary education = 37); State of origin (Benue = 101, Edo = 1, Imo = 1, Anambra = 2, Taraba = 1); religion (Christianity = 104, traditional = 2); socio-occupation (student = 71, Lawyer = 2, farmer = 10, designer = 5, business = 9, civil servant = 9). Instrument was Terrorism Perception Scale of 5-point Not At All (1), To A Low Extent (2), To An Average Extent (3), To A High Extent (4), and To A Very High Extent (5). Response duration was about 10 minutes per participant. The study had MANOVA and cross-sectional design. Findings show terrorized indigenous people in Nigeria significantly differ in perceptions of terrorism. Education Attainments, and Socio-Occupation had no significant difference in perception of terrorism; Interaction of Gender and Socio-Occupation significantly affect “Terrorism Fear”; Interaction of Education Attainment and Socio-Occupation significantly influences perceived “Self-Protection Ability” against terrorism; and Interaction of Education Attainment and Socio-Occupation affect perceived “Terrorism Impacts”. Recommendation was for indigenous people to harness “Self-Protection Ability” (self-defence) and protect their existence from being destroyed/exterminated by Nigerian jihadism terrorists.