THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE USE OF VIGILANTE GROUPS ON SECURITY MANAGEMENT ( A CASE STUDY OF IHIAGWA, AUTHONOMOUS COMMUNITY, IMO STATE)

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in four villages in Ihiagwa autonomous community to determine the socio-economic impact of the use of vigilante in security management. 120 people were interviewed with the structured questionnaire which comprised residents of the community and members of the vigilante group. Data was analyzed and presented using frequency distribution, percentage and tables. Empirical findings from the study show that all the villages surveyed had a functional vigilante group which provided security services. The study also revealed that the absence of vigilante in the past resulted in a high rate of criminal activities in the community. It also showed that if the vigilante groups are properly empowered they would provide better security services. In view of the findings, community leaders and the government are advised to encourage the formation of more vigilante groups to help in security management at the community levels.

Title page

Declaration page

Certification

Acknowledgement

Table of contents

List of table

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the study
2. Statement of the problem
3. Hypothesis/Research questions
4. Hypothesis
5. Purpose of the study
6. Significance of the study
7. Scope of the study
8. Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF LITERATURE

• Introduction
• Security situation in the globe especially in Nigeria
• Meaning of security threat
• Types of security threat
• The various security groups in Nigeria offering security services.
• The importance of security
• The various security groups in pre-colonial Nigeria
• The various security groups in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria
• The organization of vigilante groups for effective performance.
• The mode of operation of vigilante groups
• Instruments used
• Effects of vigilante group in crime reduction
• The socio-economic impact on the use of vigilante
• Residents perception towards the use of vigilante
• Recommendations on how to make the use of the vigilante more effective
• Theoretical framework
• Idealism
• Realism
• Pluralism
• Marxism
• Social constructivism
• Human security

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Design of study
• Study Area
• Population of the study
• Sample size
• Sampling techniques
• Data collection techniques
• Instrumentation Validation of the instrument
• Administration of instrument
• Data Analysis technique
• Limitation of the study

CHAPTER FOUR – RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

• Results

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Summary
• Conclusion
• Recommendations

References

Appendices

Appendix A    –           Questionnaire

LIST OF TABLES

Table   Title

4.0       Distribution of questionnaire returned

4.1       Sex distribution of respondents

4.2       Age distribution of respondent

4.3       Marital status of respondents

4.4       Religious Affiliation of respondents

4.5       Educational qualification of respondents

4.6       Occupational status of respondents

4.7       Security challenges faced in the community

4.8       Existence of vigilante group in the community

4.9       Help received from vigilante group

4.10     Areas were help was received from vigilante

4.11     Payment of vigilante services

4.12     The vigilante group has helped in curbing crime

4.13     Crime rate as at the time there was no vigilante

4.14     Vigilante group membership is voluntary

4.15     Criminal activities that led to the formation of the vigilante group.

4.16     Vigilante group has helped in curbing crime rate in community

4.17     Vigilante group has dedicated lines through which they can be reached

4.18     Instruments used by vigilante group in apprehending criminals.

4.19     Patrol vehicles used

4.20     Members of vigilante are paid for services rendered

4.21     Sources of fund for vigilante group

4.22     Qualification for joining vigilante group

4.23     Methods of enforcing security in community by vigilante members

4.24     Ways culprits are dealt with when apprehended

4.25     Time of the day service is rendered

4.26     Challenges encountered as a vigilante

4.27     Calculating data for hypothesis

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

            A layman definition of security is the protection of life and property of a person. The word security emanated from the Greek word se-cura, meaning “to be in a state of no fear”. The concept of security has undergone a transition conceptualization to a non-traditional meaning. Traditionally, security management was the unilateral function of the state especially if we consider the intellectual view(s) of some political theorist like Thomas Hobbes (1962) who argued that the essence of a state is to guarantee the security of lives and property and ensure law and order through its political sovereignty and monopoly of violence, which the state applies to engender strict conformity and compliance to state laws by the people for effective security management.

            But in contemporary times, the definition of security goes beyond the traditional military ways of protecting the state against internal and external aggression. The fact is that since the end of the cold war, security management has assumed a new dimension.

            External threat of security resulting from international hostilities and aggression that characterized the cold war era, has been replaced with non traditional security, threat like information warfare, drug trafficking, nuclear pollutions, kidnapping, insurgency, corruption, human trafficking, terrorism and so forth.

            Now the government has realized that they can no longer monopolize the business of security in the local domain as well as the world at large. Here in Nigeria, the agencies in charge of security management which comprises of the police, military, civil defence and so forth has failed woefully due to corruption, insufficient numbers of personnel and so on. As a result of this failure we have recognized that traditional policing in the form of vigilantism is necessary and beneficial to the effective management of security. With the government recognizing the vigilante groups and empowering them to help in crime management in their various communities, crime will not only be prevented, but there will be peace and security. Since the members of the various vigilante groups are members of the community who are acquainted with the people, understand the culture of the people, grew up knowing the norms of their communities, and also the terrain, that is they know the nook and crannies of their communities, so that it will be difficult for an offender to hide. With the vigilante groups in charge, security will be guaranteed at the community levels while the police will have the time to do the wider work of National policing.