EFFECTS OF INTRA-COMMUNAL CONFLICT ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE ETULO PEOPLE IN BURUKU LGA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Intra-communal Conflict on Socio-economic Development in Etulo land. It examined the historical perspective of intra-communal conflict in Etulo land and looked at the causes of intra-communal conflict in the land since 2009. It also determined the level of awareness of the community on the effects of the intra-communal conflicts on socio-economic development of the community. The study used a sample size of 400 respondents drawn from the population of Etulo People. The President of Etulo Cultural and Development Community (ECDC) and the president of National Union of Etulo Students (NUES) were also interviewed. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequencies and percentages presented in tables were used for result presentations and discussions. Univariate Analysis of Variance and Covariances were used to examine the effect of intra-communal conflict on socio-economic development in Etulo Land. The study found that intra-communal conflict has a significant effect on socio-economic development in Etulo Land measured by income per head, access to food and house ownership. However, when socio-economic development is measured by educational attainment, availability of banking services and access to healthcare, the effect of intra-communal conflict is not significant. The study concludes that intra-communal conflict greatly affects the socio-economic development of the community in Etulo Land. The study recommends, among other measures, that there should be a collective dialogue and agreement among all the principal actors in intra-communal conflict in Etulo Land so as to settle all unnecessary arguments that often give rise to intra-communal conflicts in Etulo Land.