WHEN INSECURITY BECOMES DIRE

AN X-RAY OF MILITIA GROUPS IN NASARAWA STATE AND MECHANISMS OF CONTROL ADOPTED BY GOVERNMENT

Abstract

Militia groups prevalence is increasing and spreading like wild fire. This is normally accompanied by attendant effect on the security of the country. The scenario of militia is not peculiar to one region in the country. Nasarawa State in North central Nigeria is not left out. The study x-rayed the various militia groups in Nasarawa State as well as the various mechanisms adopted by government to control the activities of the militia groups. The objectives of the study include; to find out militia groups that are present in Nasarawa State, to ascertain the mechanisms of control adopted by government to control militia groups activities in Nasarawa State, assess the effectiveness of mechanisms of control adopted by government in controlling militia activities in Nasarawa State. The study used the General strain theory of Robert Agnew for theoretical framework. The survey research design was used. A sample size of 200 respondents were sampled and given copies of questionnaire. However, only 180 were retrieved for analysis. The method of data analysis was through the use of pie chart and bar charts. This is for easy comprehension by readers. Findings revealed that the militia groups that exist in Nasarawa State are Ombatse and Fulani militia. It was also revealed that the mechanisms adopted by government in controlling the activities of militia groups include; proscription(outlaw) arrest and prosecution, persuasion or co-optation, imprisonment of leaders. Findings further revealed that the mechanisms of control are effective. The study hereby recommend that the welfare of citizens should be the priority of government so as to discourage the wide ethnic agitations which mostly later results to emergence of ethnic militias. It was also recommended that Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy of “let punishment fit the crime” be imbibed in the punishment of arrested members and leaders.