EXPLORING IMPACT OF INTERCOMMUNAL CONFLICT ON POVERTY LEVELS OF GHITAL AND TAFAWA-BALEWA COMMUNITIES IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Globally, inter-communal conflicts remain notorious social malaise that had taken a center stage in scholarly and 
policy realms. In particular, Ghital-Tafawa Balewa had  for too long recorded lingering inter-communal conflict that 
had decimated human and material assets. Various strategies by stakeholders to change the narratives proved 
abortive. These conditions, facts and issues  motivated this research.This study therefore aimed to explore the impact 
of the issue on poverty levels in the referent localities. Previous studies conducted on the subject matter were mostly 
anectodal and conceptual commentaries which yielded shallow outcomes. The current research was empirical in 
approach to offer more analytical perspectives on the subject matter. Group Conflict Theory was adopted as study 
underpinning framework. Descriptive Survey Design was employed as study blue print. Sample size of 385 was 
determined using Taro Yamane scientific method, and doubled for research robustness. Stratified and Simple 
Random Sampling technique were used to draw research respondents from each cluster. A modified four-point 
Likert scale questionnaire tagged "Ghital-Tafawa Balewa Intercommunal Conflict Questionnaire (GTICCQ),"  with 
internal consistency of 0.86 Cronbach Alpha was used in data collection. Ordinal regressional method  was 
employed to analyse the data and test the study hypothesis.Findings revealed that the inter-communal conflict had 
considerably increased poverty levels of Ghital and Tafawa-Balewa communities. Premised on findings, the study 
recommended a robust  social safety nets for the people  of the affected areas to curb their gullibility to violent 
conflicts. It is also recommended that regular  inter-community peace building be introduced for the affected 
localities to improve their socio-economic dispositions.