Author(s) :

ALHASSAN Yakubu Adeku, FORTUNE Ojochetule Yusufu, MAIWADA Simon Zagana, MUHAMMED Yusuf Danbawa.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, communal conflicts, and other forms of insecurity across many parts of Nigeria have exposed the limitations of conventional state-centered security mechanisms. In response, local communities in Kogi State have increasingly relied on non-state actors such as vigilante organizations, neighborhood watch groups, hunters’ associations, and community policing structures to complement the efforts of formal security agencies. The objectives of the study are to assess the contributions of vigilante and community policing initiatives to local security governance, examine the level of cooperation between non-state actors and formal security institutions, identify the challenges confronting these initiatives, and evaluate their impact on crime prevention and community safety in Kogi State. The study utilises a content analysis methodology. Findings reveal that non-state actors play significant roles in intelligence gathering, crime detection, local surveillance, conflict resolution, and rapid response to security threats, especially in rural communities where state security presence is weak. The study also found that community policing initiatives have enhanced trust and cooperation between residents and security operatives, thereby improving grassroots participation in security management. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, lack of training, human rights abuses, poor coordination with formal security agencies, political interference, and absence of proper legal frameworks limit the effectiveness of these groups. It recommends stronger institutional support, proper regulation, capacity building, improved collaboration between state and non-state actors, and the establishment of clear operational guidelines to ensure accountability, professionalism, and sustainability in community-based security initiatives. Keywords: Security governance, non-state actors, vigilante and community policing initiatives

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