Adolescent trauma in armed conflict areas and associated risk of gangster violence: the Maiduguri, Nigeria perspective

The study investigated traumatic experiences and risk factors associated with gangster violence among adolescents living in armed conflict areas, specifically Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, of Nigeria. Three answers were provided with regards to Forms of traumatic experiences of adolescents exposed to insurgency in Maiduguri, Prevalence of risk factors associated with gangster violence among adolescents exposed to insurgency in Maiduguri and relationship between exposure to insurgency and risk factors associated with gangster violence among adolescents exposed to insurgency in Maiduguri. Five hundred adolescent students were randomly sampled from 10 junior secondary schools in Maiduguri. All participants were below 19 years of age. Participants responded to two instruments; Instrument for Risk Factor Associated with Gang/Insurgency (IRAGI) and Instrument for Traumatic Experiences of Insurgency Victims (ITEIV). IRAGI constitutes of 17 items measuring risk behaviour that may underlie gangster violence among adolescents. Response for the instrument was measured on a scale of “Much Like Me,” “Less like me” and “Unlike Me” = 3, 2, 1 respectively. Reliability of the instrument is .72 (Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient using SPSS). The second instrument ITEIV (Chronbach’s alpha reliability .69) constitutes of 15 items measuring traumatic experiences of adolescents exposed to Boko haram insurgency in Maiduguri. Responses to the items were on three-point (Verytrue, Uncertain and Nottrue). Items for both instruments were derived from literature and suggestions from student. The instrument was validated by experts in the department of education, University of Maiduguri, Borno state Nigeria. The instrument was pilot tested using students from schools other than the population of study. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was used in answering research questions while hypothesis on relationship between traumatic experiences and risk factors associated with gangster violence among adolescents exposed to insurgency in Maiduguri was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings of the study indicated that adolescents are traumatized by Loss of family home/properties, Loss of family business/source of income, Death of a family member at the hands of insurgents, Death of family members at the hands of insurgents and witnessing death of other people at the hands of insurgents. Risk factors exhibited by adolescents in Maiduguri include participation in non-peaceful demonstrations, shouting at teachers and fellow students, hitting anyone infringing on your rights and friendship with bullies. Statistically significant relationship was found between traumatic experiences and risk factors associated with gangster violence among adolescents in Maiduguri. Based on the findings, it was recommended that attention be paid to adolescents psychological needs; effort should be made to ameliorate the plights of victims of Insurgency in Maiduguri