Vigilante Groups and Crime Prevention and Control in Nigeria

A Study in Functional Analysis

Abstract

Vigilante groups in Nigeria have emerged as a response to the perceived ineffectiveness of formal law enforcement agencies particularly the police in controlling rising crime rates. They are often composed of volunteers from the community and operates under various structures, from informal neighbourhood watches to more organized state-sponsored groups. Studies indicate that their success often stems from the local knowledge, community trust and ability to respond swiftly due to their proximity. While vigilantee groups can contribute to crime reduction in certain contexts, their activities also carry significant risks. It is within this context that the study explores the roles of vigilante security outfit in crime prevention and control in Nigeria. The study adopted the functionalist theory in the explanation of the discourse. The utility of the theory to the study is that when state institutions are perceived as unable to effectively prevent and control crime, communities creates informal mechanisms (vigilante groups) to fulfil this essential social function. This highlights the idea that when one part of the system fails, other parts may emerge or adapt to maintain social order. Findings from the study revealed that their effectiveness is often hampered by their own internal challenges and this persistent systematic issues within the Nigerian security apparatus, hence, despite their presence crime continues to be a significant problem. The study recommended that in order to harness the benefits of vigilante groups while mitigating their risks, government should evolve better regulation, training, adequate resources and integration into the formal security framework with robust accountability mechanisms.