This summary effectively distills the core insights from Luqman Abdulrasaq Gidado’s article published in this year’s edition of the International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review.
Security is indeed an indispensable cornerstone of any functional society. In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) places the solemn duty of protecting lives and property squarely on the shoulders of the state. However, the state’s exclusive monopoly over the use of force is facing increasing strain especially in regions like Nasarawa State where layered and evolving security challenges have revealed the operational limitations of formal security agencies.
The rise in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, and farmer-herder conflicts has not only threatened individual safety but has also undermined economic and social activities in affected areas. It has become evident that state actors alone cannot effectively handle the magnitude and sophistication of insecurity in today’s complex environment. This is where non-state actors (NSAs) have emerged not as competitors to state authority, but as collaborators filling the void in community-based crime prevention and safety.
Understanding the Context of Crime in Nasarawa State
Between 2000 and 2016, global crime rates increased significantly, as noted by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Nigeria has mirrored this trend, with its unique political and social realities exacerbating the problem. In Nasarawa State, the inadequacy of policing has contributed to a sense of vulnerability in both rural and urban communities. These realities have made the inclusion of non-violent non-state actors a strategic imperative. These actors, particularly vigilante groups and community-based organizations have assumed critical roles in crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and conflict resolution.
The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), for instance, officially registered in 1999, exemplifies how NSAs can contribute meaningfully to internal security. In Nasarawa State, vigilante structures are reinforced by the Community Volunteer Guard law enacted in 2004, which legally empowers trained community volunteers to support the Nigerian Police Force in safeguarding local communities.
Conceptualising Non-State Actors and Crime Prevention
Non-state actors, as recognized in both international and Nigerian contexts, encompass a broad range of entities including community-based organizations, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), traditional institutions, and vigilante networks. Though not formally part of the state apparatus, these groups possess considerable influence and operational capacity to support and enhance public security efforts.
Crime prevention is no longer restricted to the reactive enforcement of laws; it is increasingly understood to involve proactive strategies that address root causes and engage the community in safety efforts. This aligns with the broader United Nations definition that sees crime prevention as strategies that reduce the risk of crimes occurring by influencing their multiple causes.
Community-based organizations in Nasarawa State carry out grassroots interventions such as security patrols, awareness campaigns, and mediation during conflicts. Vigilante groups, like the Eggon Vigilante or Yan Doma, operate where formal state presence is thin, while local NGOs organize peacebuilding workshops and dialogues aimed at de-escalating potential violence.
Theoretical Framework: Community Policing as the Analytical Lens
This study adopts Community Policing Theory, which is anchored in the philosophy that trust and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community members are essential to achieving effective and sustainable crime prevention. The theory is structured around three core components: building robust community partnerships, driving organizational transformation within policing institutions, and implementing proactive, problem-solving strategies tailored to local security needs.
In Nasarawa State, these principles are demonstrated through community actors working hand-in-hand with law enforcement. The SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment) model, an offshoot of this theory, promotes a cycle of understanding crime patterns, crafting responses, and evaluating outcomes. The informal but functional partnerships between NSAs and traditional leaders, religious groups, and residents exemplify this process in action.
This study employed qualitative research methods, utilizing secondary data sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, official reports, crime statistics, and relevant academic literature. Through thematic analysis, the research identified salient patterns and insights into the challenges faced by non-state actors (NSAs) and their contributions to security efforts in Nasarawa State.
Challenges Facing Non-State Actors in Crime Prevention
While NSAs play a crucial role in community security, they face a number of structural and operational challenges:
1. Lack of Formal Recognition and Legal Backing:
Most NSAs operate in legal grey areas as many vigilante groups lack constitutional authority, limiting their ability to work seamlessly with police and raising concerns about legitimacy.
2. Inadequate Training and Equipment:
Many NSAs lack the modern tools, intelligence-gathering capacities, and skills necessary for effective operations. This sometimes leads to excessive use of force, human rights violations, and wrongful detentions.
3. Funding Constraints:
Most non-state security actors depend on voluntary contributions from communities or donations from individuals and politicians. This irregular funding undermines their sustainability and exposes them to political manipulation.
4. Poor Recruitment Processes:
With most groups relying on voluntarism, membership is unstable and inconsistent. There are often no standardized procedures for assessing recruits, leading to disparities in competency and reliability.
5. Lack of Community Trust in Some Cases:
While NSAs often have community support, instances of misconduct have damaged public trust in some quarters. Where abuses have occurred, cooperation with the community has declined, weakening crime-fighting efforts.
Despite these challenges, NSAs have made significant strides in securing communities across the state:
– Combatting Kidnapping:
A classic example is the Eggon Vigilante Group in Nasarawa Eggon LGA has worked closely with law enforcement to rescue kidnapped victims and apprehend suspects. Their familiarity with the terrain often gives them an edge over formal security forces in rescue missions.
– Supporting Community Policing:
Groups such as the Maiyama security network provide regular patrols and conflict mediation in rural farming communities, preventing disputes from escalating into violent clashes.
– Assisting in Armed Robbery Prevention:
On April 5, 2024, in the Aso Pada area of Mararaba, Nasarawa State, a coordinated effort between the police and local vigilante groups led to the successful disruption of an armed robbery operation.
– Preventing Communal Clashes:
Informal actors, including traditional leaders and community patrol teams, played a key role in diffusing tensions between the Gwandara and Bassa ethnic groups in 2021, averting potential bloodshed.
– Supporting Traditional Institutions:
In early 2024, traditional rulers in Nasarawa State including the Emir of Lafia and community leaders in Nasarawa Eggon and Toto LGAs collaborated with local vigilante groups to address escalating tensions tied to illegal mining and land disputes. Notably, in Nasarawa Eggon, a joint operation between the police and vigilantes led to the arrest of over 100 illegal miners at the Alogani mountain stretch. In Toto, traditional institutions played a key role in mediating land related conflicts and coordinating with emerging Mining Marshals to secure vulnerable sites.
Policy Recommendations
To harness the full potential of non-state actors in crime prevention, the following recommendations are advanced:
1. Legal and Institutional Backing:
NSAs must be formally recognized within Nigeria’s security architecture. The pending Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Establishment Bill should be passed and implemented to offer constitutional support and regulate vigilante operations.
2. Human Rights Oversight:
A “no tolerance” policy on human rights violations must be adopted. All security actors, state and non-state, should undergo routine training on the rules of engagement and civil liberties.
3. Standardized Training and Profiling:
NSAs should receive certified training in crime prevention, mediation, and intelligence gathering. Standardizing recruitment and profiling procedures will also ensure that only qualified individuals participate.
4. Sustainable Funding Models:
Federal, state, and local governments should create funding mechanisms perhaps through security trust funds, that support community-based policing without making NSAs dependent on political patronage.
5. Integrated Security Planning:
Security agencies must actively incorporate NSAs into planning and response strategies. Joint patrols, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and community dialogues should be institutionalized.
Non-state actors in Nasarawa State are not merely peripheral players; they are indispensable to the region’s fragile security architecture. Their efforts, though under-resourced and often unrecognized have contributed significantly to reducing crime, preventing conflict, and restoring public confidence in community security.
Captain Luqman Gidado (Rtd) is a distinguished and multifaceted professional with an accomplished background in military service, research, and strategic consulting. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Security and Strategic Studies, underscoring his commitment to advancing solutions to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape. His academic portfolio includes a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy with a specialization in Defense and Security Studies, a Master of Science in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.
Gidado rendered exemplary service in the Nigerian Army, maintaining a spotless record of duty and earning multiple honors for valor and dedication, including the General Operations Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, and Centenary Medal. These accolades reflect his active role in combat operations and his unwavering dedication to upholding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In addition to his military career, Captain Gidado has obtained numerous professional certifications and undergone specialized training. His qualifications include an Executive Certified Security Professional Course, an Advanced Professional Diploma in Security Management and Strategic Operations, and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). He has also received specialized training in Preventing the Recruitment and Use of Children as Soldiers in Armed Conflict, conducted at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Nigeria.
He is a certified management trainer and consultant, a security and risk management expert, a seasoned researcher, and a public affairs analyst. Luqman Gidado is a Professional Member of the International Institute of Professional Security, reflecting his continued engagement with thought leadership and capacity building in national and global security practice.
Correspondence: gidadoluqman@gmail.com
