The Role and Impact of Decentralised Policing and Internal Security Management in the South West, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated the activities and impact of decentralized policing groups in internal security management in the South-West Nigeria. It employed a case study survey research design, using in-depth interview guide to retrieve data from stakeholders in two local governments each of the three states of Oyo, Ogun and Ondo in the southwest region. Stakeholders from each LG include NPF, Amotekun, VGN/Neighbourhood Watch, Trade Union leaders, Religious and Traditional leaders, Market Women, Community Youth Leader, Farmers and Road Transport Workers. A total of 60 individuals were interviewed using purposive sampling method. Data from secondary sources were collected from published books and reports both in the library and the Internet. The data obtained were analysed, discussed and guided by Broken Window theory. It utilised survey research design to obtain primary data through interviews. The study established that some factors such as insecurity and lack of capacity of the Nigeria police led to the formation of sub-national security groups in Nigeria. It also found that the police do not have adequate number of personnel to handle their operations, and are dominantly found in the urban areas which impinge negatively on internal security management in Nigeria. The results showed that the decentralized policing group is birthed by the people’s need for safety and majority of the people have more confidence in the groups than the Nigeria police in preventing crimes. Findings from the study revealed that rate of insecurity became low after the formation of the decentralized policing group. The study recommends that State government should harmonize decentralised policing groups into a recognized and formidable force of Community Policing in the State and Local Governments recruited from the community and empowered to bear firearms under strict regulatory supervision by trained and certified local police personnel.