Insecurity in Nigeria Marginalization Exclusion Southeast Nigeria Orlu Local Government Area Ethnic discrimination Frustration-aggression hypothesis Political participation Socioeconomic inequality Civil war impact Regional development

Insecurity in Nigeria presents a complicated challenge that has defied several management efforts by the government. the issues of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, ritualism, trafficking, and the like have continued to appear at the front burner of national discourse. Yet, little progress has been made to address these issues. However, one area that has not attracted sufficient attention is marginalization, which studies have established as the nexus between marginalization or its variant, exclusion, and insecurity. This study examined the relationship between marginalization and insecurity in Southeast Nigeria, using Orlu Local Government Area as a case study. Orlu was chosen due to its notoriety as one of the centres in the Southeast where insecurity is pervasive. The study utilized a structured questionnaire to elicit responses from a randomly selected 100 respondents from Orlu Local Government Area. The entire study was anchored on the frustration-aggression hypothesis that argues that when a person or group is frustrated, the result can be aggression. The study found that the Igbos are marginalized, being excluded from holding key political positions in Nigeria, disallowed from partaking in the decision-making process in Nigeria, and overlooked by the Nigerian government in many issues challenging the region; restricted from accessing basic infrastructure in Nigeria, empowerment initiatives in Nigeria, and approved loans in Nigeria; and restricted from effectively relating with other ethnic groups, as well as discriminated against due to their ethnic background. Furthermore, the study found that the name ‘Igbo’, which carries identity and stereotype, the experience of the civil war, envy for the entrepreneurial skills of Igbos, and the industry of Igbos, were the causes of marginalization of the region. The study recommends that the government need to convene a regional meeting to address specific challenges faced by the region; intensify actions towards separating genuine agitators against marginalization and opportunists; and compensate the victims of the Civil War as promised post-war.