CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

1.1              Introduction

Migrant communities, throughout the world, have been playing significant roles in the development of societies. For instance, the activities of migrants in different part of Africa contributed in re-shaping many societies and are viewed as major aspects of the history of Africa. Therefore human migration has been transforming the aspect of racial and linguistic composition of human population.1 Generally, scholars are of the view that migration is influenced by two important factors: the push and the pull factors.2 the push factors include famine, war and flooding. The pull factors on the other hand, attract migrants to settle in an area, such as better socio-political and economic atmosphere.According to Abdulkadir the occurrence of famine and food shortage in some parts of Nigeria in 1932, for instance, served as push factors to the migration of people to different parts of Nigeria and beyond.3

This research is concerned with the migration and settlement of Yoruba and Igbo communities in Kankia town, 1950 – 2016. The Yoruba and Igbo came to Kankia town, in the second half of the 20th century, Igbo and Yoruba migrants were the predominant traders in Kankia  town  in fact their settlement facilitated trade and other economic activities in Kankia. This research is divided into five chapters. Chapter one gives the general background of the study. Chapter two examines the history of the area of study. Chapter three discusses the migration and settlement of Igbo and Yoruba migrants in Kankia town. Chapter four analyses the impact of Igbo and Yoruba in Kankia town. Chapter five provides summary and conclusion to the study.