Youth Unemployment and Political Radicalisation in Kaduna State

This study explores the relationship between youth unemployment and political radicalisation in Kaduna State, examining whether labour market exclusion makes young people more susceptible to recruitment by extremist organisations and violent political movements. Youth unemployment in northern Nigeria has reached levels that represent both a social and a security challenge, with millions of young people outside formal employment, education, or training. Using a survey research design, the study gathers data from 370 respondents aged 18 to 30 across urban and peri-urban areas of Kaduna State, supplemented by key informant interviews with security researchers and community leaders. The relative deprivation theory and social exclusion framework are applied to analyse the mechanisms through which economic marginalisation contributes to political extremism. Findings reveal a statistically significant association between prolonged unemployment and expressed sympathy for extra-constitutional forms of political action, though the study cautions against deterministic conclusions that conflate structural vulnerability with individual radicalisation pathways. Social networks, religious institutions, and family support systems are found to moderate the relationship between unemployment and radicalisation in some communities. The North West geopolitical zone context of Kaduna State, with its complex inter-ethnic and inter-religious dynamics, amplifies the political consequences of economic exclusion. Recommendations include targeted youth employment programmes, investment in vocational training, and community-based counter-radicalisation initiatives that address both economic grievances and ideological narratives. Keywords: youth unemployment, political radicalisation, Kaduna State, relative deprivation, extremism