SPATIAL VARIATIONS OF INSURGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SOME SELECTED STATES OF NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to examine the spatial variation of insurgency activities in some selected states of North eastern Nigeria. Methodology: The methodology of the paper utilizes secondary data from Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), printed materials, newspaper records, and journals. Purposive sampling was adopted in the selection of the study area. The analysis and the variation were done with ArcGIS. Results: The results indicate that Borno state experienced the highest insurgency activities in all the years considered. The insurgency showed an increasing rate of 31 occurrences per year during the period of study. The R-square statistic shows that the model as fitted explained 72% variability in frequency of insurgency activities in the study area. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The unique contribution of the study is that GIS should be utilized in the analysis of insurgency activities by security agencies so that spatial and temporal variations can be easily detected between geographical area.