ALQALI Adam (2015) A Study of Violence-Related Deaths in Baure, Ingawa, Kurfi, Mani and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State (2006– 2014)

The purpose of this study is to determine the types of fatal incidents in five LGAs of Katsina State: Baure, Mani, Kurfi, Matazu, and Ingawa. The research also interrogates why these areas are neglected by the Nigerian press. The study primarily involved field research (via structured questionnaires) and a review of existing literature on violence, as well as the socioeconomic, political, religious, and geographical context of Katsina State.

The study revealed 37 incidents of unreported cases of violence, which resulted in 104 deaths in the five ‘invisible’ LGAs of Katsina State between 2006 and 2014. The causes of these fatalities included, in order of prevalence, road accidents, drowning in rivers, fire outbreaks, and farmer–pastoralist clashes. Kurfi accounts for the highest number of fatal deaths in the five LGAs, followed by Ingawa, Baure, Mani, and Matazu.

Road accidents were responsible for 63.46% of the deaths, followed by drownings (12.50%), famer– pastoralist clashes (6.73%), building collapses (4.80%), assassinations (3.84%), fire-outbreaks (2.88%), animal attacks (1.92%), explosions (0.96%), and electrocutions (0.96%).

Essentially, this study identifies the ineffectiveness of press coverage as responsible for the failure of such incidents to make news headlines. A critical look exposes the political economy of the media in Nigeria, with private owners who underpay journalists and see news organs as political platforms to manipulate the unsuspecting masses, to the detriment of poor and marginalised groups in rural areas.

Tags: Nigeria, Violence, Lethal violence, Katsina State