Migration drivers, income inequality and rural attachment in deprived remote areas prone to cattle rustling in Nigeria

ABSTRACT While the broader concept of human security emphasizes the need for safety from livelihood security threats, the roles of attachment and violent conflicts on rural migration remain a subject of considerable debate. This study examines the drivers of rural migration within the context of potential relative deprivation. Using data from 1,750 households residing in rural areas of Nigeria, the study reports two key findings. First, the results show that migration is structured by the socio-economic stratification of rural households. Secondly, the results of ordinary least squares reveal that rural attachments, deprivation, cattle rustling and human capital are salient factors determining the patterns of rural migration. It can be argued that cattle rustling, as one of the major security threats affecting pastoral communities, is constraining pastoral households from pursuing their normal livelihoods and thus reducing the raiding of pastoral livelihood assets may help in reducing rural-urban migration in Nigeria.