Confession, Mental Life and Psychosocial (Re)Conditioning: The Case of Children Affected by Armed Banditry in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State Nigeria

Armed Banditry has some traumatizing tendencies capable of disrupting the psychosocial behavior of children in Nigeria. The study uses confession as grid of narrativization to unveil the psychosocial state of children in selected communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State considered to be the most hit by banditry. These communities include Magamiya II, Kurmin Masara, Gan Gora and Kan Kibori. The study categorizes children as young humans from the ages of 12 to 17. It maintains that confession serves as a viable tool for unveiling the mental states and tendencies of psychosocial reconditioning in children affected by banditry. These personality realignments, if not properly addressed, could trigger disruptive experiences in children which could lead to anxiety, restlessness, resentment, violence, and, above all, trauma. The study uses qualitative and quantitative methods in collating and interpreting data. Through the qualitative method, a total of 14 participants were selected from the four villages. Under strict privacy, they were interviewed focusing particularly on their feeling of loss either of loved ones and access to livelihood and how these have disrupted their sense of humanity. These confessions were further transcribed and analyzed using the quantitative approach to examine some of the traumatizing emotions these children are harboring and how such have, in turn, alter their neurotic pattern in ways that have reshaped their psychosocial behavior. The study finds, among other things, that children are neglected in the process of peace building in communities affected by banditry. It recommends, among other things, that children should be availed the opportunity to participate in the process of peace building to give them a sense of belonging. This, the study concludes, will checkmate the activities of criminal elements killing people in the guise of herdsmen.