KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COURSE CODE: MCPSS813
Advanced Research Method
A REVIEW
ON
THE ROLE OF VIGILANTE SERVICE GROUPS IN CRIME CONTROL FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA
BY
SAMIRA GHADAFFI AMINU
KASU/MCPSS/POL/20/0071
COURSE LECTURER:
PROF. NTIM GYAKARI ESEW
JANUARY, 2022
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Introduction
Peace, safety and security are both necessary and indispensable requirements for development
and the attainment of good quality of life for any human society. They provide the requisite
enabling environment for citizens to live and work towards social, economic and political
development of the society (Groenewald and Peake, 2004). By the same token, their absence
stifles the human capacity to develop and heavily compromises the dignity and quality of life of
both individuals and society. Furthermore, insecurity impacts negatively on all citizens through
losses of property, life and limb, or through loss of confidence from fear of violence. It is against
this backdrop that the delivery of safety and security is considered a justifiable public good and
the very essence of the state (Lubuva, 2004). Human safety and security are indeed human rights
having a value of their own and serving an instrumental function in the construction of human
contentment and prosperity (Odinkalu 2005). Unfortunately, social life in Nigeria has remained
largely characterized by fear and insecurity (Odekunle, 2005; Odinkalu, 2005; Bach, 2004;
Alemika and Chukuma, 2005) in a manner that suggests that the country lacks the capacity to
discharge its security functions especially that of policing.
Reiner (2000) observes that formal policing structures, a body of men recruited and paid by the
state to enforce law and maintain order is a recent development in human history. Traditionally
and historically, policing was the responsibility of every adult in the community. In medieval
society, all adults were obliged to contribute towards the prevention and control of crime and
disorder. This was achieved through the system of “hue cry and pursuit” and the “watch and
ward” that preceded the emergence of the state (Martin, 1990:6). Achebe (1974) identified
institutions like council of elders and masquerade cult as very indispensable in ensuring the
prevalence of community peace, safety and security, prior to colonial rule in Nigeria. The
emergence of the state as an entity with the claim to the monopoly over the means of legitimate
violence in society (Weber, 1968 cited in Ritzer, 2012) resulted to the creation of specialized
agencies such as the police and the armed forces for controlling the use of violence by other
groups.
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Some state governments in Nigeria are also known to have tacitly or openly endorsed armed
vigilante groups as part of their campaign against crime (Amnesty International, 2002; Akinyele,
2008). In Anambra state, Vigilante service groups were established by the Anambra State
Vigilante Services Law, 2000. The law was amended in 2004 and is now currently referred to as
the Anambra State Vigilante Group Law, 2004. The group is empowered to assist the Nigerian
police to perform its constitutional duties of protecting lives and properties. They are however
expected to hand over arrested criminals to the police because they are not empowered to detain.
Vigilante groups in the State have been in existence since they were established, working hand in
hand with the formal police. They operate from the communities as their presence is visibly
present in every community in the State.
A number of factors may have occasioned the emergence of vigilante groups in Anambra state.
Chukwuma (2001) asserts that the inability of the police to protect the lives and properties of
members of the society has given rise to community effort at ensuring their own security. Okoro
(2007) identified corruption, brutality, oppressive and repressive postures, high level of
extortion, high cost of assessment to police services, poverty, non-personal relationships, as
some of the factors that made the people lose faith in the police and their consequent preference
for informal policing structures.
The Anambra vigilante service group may not have a cordial and mutual relationship with the
formal policing structure. The reasons for this may include the feeling by the police that the
informal policing structures are not legally recognised and that they are arrogating their
constitutional powers to themselves. Another reason may be the fact that the police are
benefiting from the high and unabated crime rate in the country (Amuka, 2008).
Shaw (2002) is of the view that there is a rise in crime because of the perceived inadequacies of
the police in the society to provide safety and security to citizens. To him, crime is on the rise
and the police are not coping very well with the demand for protection by the citizens who are
active in countries undergoing dramatic transformation in the economic and political spheres.
Adegbusi (2009) in a study conducted in Ondo state of Nigeria on ‘Vigilante groups and the task
of policing’ with 500 respondents found that vigilante service groups are important in crime
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prevention and control as majority of the respondents indicated that vigilante service groups can
partner with the police to control and prevent crime in the state.
In view of the aforementioned problems, this study examined the place of informal policing
structures in crime control in Anambra, South East Nigeria. The study sought information from
urban and rural residents in Anambra State on how they think vigilante service groups can
contribute to crime control effectively.
Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide this study:
1. What socio-cultural factors are responsible for the emergence of vigilante service
groups in Anambra, SouthEast Nigeria?
2. What are the roles of Vigilante Service Groups in crime prevention and control in
Anambra South-East Nigeria?
3. What kind of relationship exists between the Vigilante Service Groups and the
formal police in Anambra, South-East Nigeria?
Objectives of the Study
The following objectives of the study were derived from the research questions and they include:
1. To ascertain the socio-cultural factors responsible for the emergence of vigilante
service groups in Anambra, South-East Nigeria
2. To identify the roles of vigilante service groups in crime prevention and control in
Anambra, South-East Nigeria
3. To examine the kind of relationship that exists between vigilante service groups
and the formal police in Anambra, South-East Nigeria
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THEORETICAL REVIEW
This study is anchored on broken window theory and structural strain theory. While broken
window theory was used to explain the place of informal policing structures in crime control,
structural strain theory was used to explain the incidence of crime in the society. The proponent
of broken window theory is Philip Zimbardo (1969). The theory focuses on the control and
prevention of crime from within the community as against from outside the community. It
explains how effective and efficient informal policing structures are in controlling crimes
compared to the formal policing structure that is made up of ‘strangers’. The theory holds that
only the community members can safeguard themselves from crimes. This is because they live in
the community and can work and watch at all times. They also know who those potential
criminals are and how best they can be contained. The core principle of informal policing
structures is the constant maintenance of law and order in the various communities by members
of that community. This is in line with the core notion of broken window theory, which asserts
that the constant presence of police structures makes a community less conducive for crime and
criminals. Increased police presence and enforcements of informal rules of conduct and laws can
make a community seem less chaotic and safer, thereby, increasing the presence and
involvement of residents in their community and lowering crime rates (Palmiotto,2000).The
BWT can be incorporated into the concept of informal policing in the sense that collective efforts
by both the police and community dwellers can help alleviate the rate of crime in the community
as the police see residents as partners in development and vice versa. The broken window theory
asserts that if there is a crack anywhere in the community and no one is available or observant
enough to take care of it, overtime it becomes a deep ditch that would pose a serious security risk
to members of the society. The BWT assumes that most neighborhood crimes are more often
than not perpetrated by offenders who reside near the victims; this makes crime primarily a local
problem which can best be solved locally.
Structural strain theory was developed by Robert Merton (1957). According to him, in every
society, people experience strain whenever there is a disjuncture between the culturally accepted
goals and the institutionalized (conventional) means of achieving these goals. According to
Merton, the social and cultural structures of society contain two major elements. The first is the
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culturally defined goals (culture goals) which members of a society are encouraged to recognize
and value as worth striving for. Examples of such goals are wealth, material possessions, etc.
The second major element of the social and cultural structure of society is the means or modes
which society has institutionalized or put in place for the pursuit of culture goals.
Robert Merton asserts that in pursuit of culturally accepted goals and the means to achieving
these goals, five categories of people emerge in the society. They include: the conformists,
ritualists, innovators, retreatists and the rebels. For the purpose of this study, the innovators are
explained as it is the strand of the theory that suitably explains the issue of crime in the society.
Innovators are those individuals that accept the cultural goals of society but reject the
conventional methods of attaining those goals. Examples are armed robbers, drug dealers and
prostitutes. The innovators are constantly interested in achieving success in the society but they
fail to follow the acceptable laid down procedures for this. They rather devise their own means
of attaining success which is oftentimes contrary to what is acceptable by members of the
society. This results to all sorts of criminal activities. Innovators literarily invent crime to achieve
success. Crime for them is the short cut to success as they consider the laid down procedures by
the society so long and out of reach. It is pertinent to also note that the frustrations associated
being unable to achieve success through laid down societal procedures oftentimes leads people
into becoming innovators. An example is a youth who has diligently gone to school and study so
hard and comes out with a good grade expecting to get a job. When the job doesn’t come the
youth begins to think of other means of survival. In a situation like this he could invent
kidnapping as a way of surviving the pains of having no job.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(a) Study Area and Population
The cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The study was conducted in
Anambra state. Anambra is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Anambra was created from the Old
Anambra State on the 27th August, 1991. The name of the state is the anglicized version of the
original “O ma Mbala”, the native name of the Anambra River. The capital of the state and the
seat of government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the commercial and industrial cities
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respectively, in the state. The slogan of the state is “Light of the Nation”. The state is bounded by
Delta State in the West, Imo State in the South, Enugu State in the East and Kogi State in the
North. The indigenous ethnic group in the state are Igbos. The predominant religion in Anambra
state is Christianity.
The 2006 population figure for Anambra state is four million, one hundred and seventy-seven
thousand, eight- hundred and twenty-eight (4,177,828). The male population is two million, one
hundred and seventeen thousand, nine hundred and eighty-four (2,117,984) while the female
population is two million, fifty-nine thousand eight hundred and forty-four (2,059844) (NPC).
The target population for this study comprises males and females aged 18 years and above. This
group of people was used because they are adults and mature enough to answer question on
informal policing structures and crime control.
(b) Sample size and sampling procedure
A sample size of 600 was used for the study. This number was considered enough and adequate
in view of the statistical requirements, time frame and available resources. The multistage
sampling method that involves successive random sampling was employed in selecting local
government areas (LGAs), communities, villages streets households and respondents in the
study. The multi-stage design was very relevant because the study population was very large and
made up of several clusters like towns, villages and households. All the local government areas
in the state were first categorized into urban and rural. From each category one LGA was
selected using purposive sampling technique. Consequently, Awka south and Oyi LGA were
selected as the urban and rural LGAs respectively using purposive sampling. In selecting the
households, the researcher used simple random sampling technique (balloting0 to select
households. The researcher also used simple random sampling method (balloting) in selecting
the desired number of respondents. One respondent 18 years and above was chosen from each
selected household. The researcher alternatively chose one sex from a selected house and another
sex from the next. This was to ensure gender balance.
(c) Instruments
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Both quantitative and qualitative tools were employed for the study. This enabled the researcher
achieve a maximum result. Instrument for quantitative data was the questionnaire while for
qualitative data, focused group discussion guide (FGD) and in-depth interview guide were used.
The major instrument however was the questionnaire. the researcher trained two research
assistants. These trainees comprised of one male and one female. This ensured gender balance.
The research assistants were trained for two to three days. The questionnaires were self-
administered on a face-to-face contact with the respondents.
In the focused group discussion, two research assistants were made use of. One helped in writing
down verbal and non-verbal responses while the other was in charge of operating the tape
recorder. Similarly, the in-depth interview (IDI) was done with the help of two research
assistants. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with participants purposely
drawn from the LGAs the study covered. A total of 4 FGD sessions were conducted; two
sessions for the rural areas and two sessions for the urban areas. To ensure gender homogeneity,
FGDs were conducted for males and females separately. This means the 4 FGD sessions
comprised of two male and two female sessions.
The in-depth interview (IDI) comprised of four interviewees. This comprised of two police
officers and two officers of the Anambra Vigilante Group. The IDI is more flexible and has a
higher completion rate. Also, it offers greater opportunity of extracting more information than
the other methods.
(d) Data analysis techniques
The IDIs and FGDs were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Adequate interpretation of the
respondents’ statements was ensured, and statements were found to have contextual importance
or connotations were extracted and used as excerpts to support statistical data. Responses from
the questionnaire were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). This was
expressed in frequency distribution tables and percentages.
RESULTS/FINDINGS
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Table 1: Socio-demographic data of respondents
Sex Frequency Percentage
Male 216 36.9
Female 369 63.1
Total 585 100
Age Frequency Percentage
18-27 129 22.1
28-37 298 50.9
38-47 114 19.5
48-57 37 6.7
58 and above 5 .9
Total 585 100
Marital status Frequency Percentage
Never married 297 50.8
Married 272 46.5
Divorced 5 .9
Separated 6 1.0
widowed 5 .9
Total 585 100
Educational qualification Frequency Percentage
No formal education 0 0
Primary/FSLC 1 .2
GCE/SSCE/WAEC 225 38.5
OND/diploma 41 7.0
HND/first degree 245 41.9
Higher degree/MSc/PhD 73 12.5
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Others 0 0
Total 585 100
Religious affliction Frequency Percentage
Christianity 534 91.3
Moslem 28 4.8
Traditional religion 23 3.9
Others 0 0
Total 585 100
Occupation Frequency Percentage
Civil servant 78 13.3
Student 94 46.2
Farmer 59 10.1
Unemployed 81 13.8
Artisan 38 6.5
Others 0 0
Total 585 100
Place of residence Frequency Percentage
Urban 296 50.6
Rural 289 49.4
Total 585 100
Table 1 indicates that there are 216 (36.9%) male respondents while the number of female
respondents is 369 (63.1%). This implies that there are more female respondents than male
respondents in the study. The table indicates that respondents who are within the ages of 18-37
years are 129 (22.1%), those who fall within the ages of 28-37 years are 298 (50.9%), and those
between the ages of 38-47 are 114 (19.7%), while those between the ages of 58 and above are 5
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(.9%). This shows that majority of the respondents are between the ages of 28 - 37. Table 1
reveals that 297 (50.8%) of the respondents indicated “never married” as their marital status, 272
(46.5%) indicated that they are married, 5(.9%) of the respondents indicated divorced as their
marital status, 6(1.0%) of the respondents indicated separated as their marital status while 5(.9%)
indicated widowed as their marital status. This implies that majority of the respondents are not
married.
In terms of educational qualification, table 1 shows that 0 (0%) of the respondents have no
formal education, 1(.2%) of them have obtained primary school certificate/FSLC, 225 (48.5%) of
them have the GCE/SSCE/WAEC as their highest educational qualification, 41 (7.0%) of them
have obtained OND/Diploma as their highest educational qualification, those that have obtained
HND/First degree as their highest educational qualification are 245 (41.9%) while those that
have obtained Higher Degree/MSc/PhD are 73 (12.5%). No respondent (0%) indicated other as
his/her highest educational qualification. This shows that majority of the respondents have
obtained HND/First degree. On religious affiliation, table 1 shows that 534 (91.3%) of the
respondents are Christians, 28 (4.8%) of them are Muslims while 23 (3.9%) of them are
practicing traditional religion. No respondent (0%) indicated ‘others’ as his/her religious
affiliation. This implies that majority of the respondents are Christians.
A further look at table 1 reveals the occupation of the respondents. The table indicates that
78(13.3%) of the respondents are civil servants, 235 (40.2) are business men/women, 94 (16.1%)
are students, 59(10.1) are farmers, 81 913.8%) are unemployed, 38(6.5) are artisans while no
respondent (0%) indicated others as his/her occupation. This shows that majority of the
respondents are business men/women. Table 1 also shows that 296 (50.6%) of the respondents
are students, 59(10.1) are farmers, 81 (13.8) are unemployed, 38(6.5%) are artisans while no
respondent (0%) indicated others as his/her occupation. This shows that majority of the
respondents are business men/women. Table 1 also shows that 296 (50.6%) of the respondents
are from urban areas while 289 (49.4%) of them are from rural. This implies that we have more
urban respondents than rural respondents.
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The findings revealed that 34.9%of the respondents consider rise in crime as the socio-cultural
factor that resulted to the emergence of vigilante service groups in Anambra State. 11.6%
identified inability of the formal police to control and prevent crime, 3.4% identified loss of
confidence in the police, 14.0% identified inability of the formal police to protect lives and
properties, 13.0% identified the need to assist the police in controlling crime while 23.0% of the
respondents did not answer the question.
Driving this point home, an IDI respondent noted,
To the best of my knowledge there are two factors that led to the formation of vigilante services
in the state. First is high rate of criminality, second is the inability of the police force to curb
crime in the state over the years. Corruption in the police is also one of it. (Male, 27 years,
Vigilante officer).
An FGD participant supported this finding when he stated,
The community members saw the need for establishing a security outfit that will be close to the
people and also willing to respond that was how the idea of vigilante came about in the
community. (Male, 60 years, Artisan).
Research Question Two: What are the roles of vigilante service groups in crime prevention and
control?
Responses of respondents on the roles of vigilante service groups is shown in figure 2
Figure 3 show that majority 7.2% of the respondents consider the relationship between vigilante
groups and the formal police in Anambra state to be very cordial. 63.1% consider the
relationship cordial, 13.5% consider the relationship hostile, 3.6% consider the relationship very
hostile while12.6% of the respondents couldn’t say the kind of relationship that exists between
the vigilante service groups and the formal police in Anambra, South-East Nigeria. This finding
was disputed by one of the IDI interviewees, who contended that,
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The relationship is hostile in the sense that the police see the vigilante as taking over what they
should be getting based on that, they are not happy with us. They feel we are taking the glory
they should be getting (Male, 27 years, Vigilante Officer).
DISCUSSION
It was found in the study that factors like rise in crime, inability of the formal police to control
and prevent crime, loss of confidence in the police, inability of the formal police to protect lives
and properties led to the formation of vigilante service groups in Anambra State. This finding is
corroborated with that of Chukwuma and Alemika (2004) who found that rise in crime is one of
the reasons for patronage of vigilante service group in Anambra State.
Also, findings further revealed that vigilante service groups have a role to play in crime control
in. Among the roles vigilante service groups can play in crime control as identified in the study
are: partnering with the police, covering and combing the nocks and crannies of the
community/streets which the formal police have been unable to do effectively, maintaining
constant presence in the community/street to prevent criminals from operating and repaid
response to security threats to prevent breakdown of law and order.
This finding is line with that of Adegbusi (2009) who posited that vigilante service groups
partner with the police in every community they operate in and this partnership have gone ahead
to see to reduction in crime rate. This is also in line with the finding of Chukwuma and Alemika
(2004) who found that vigilante service groups are always available whenever they are needed
since they maintain constant presence in the community/streets to prevent criminals from
operating.
Further findings reveal that there is a cordial relationship between the police and vigilante
service groups in Anambra State. This finding contrasts that of Adebisi (2009) who posited that
there is an unfriendly relationship between the police and vigilante groups because vigilante
groups are perceived by the police as unwanted competitors.
CONCLUSION
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The study examined the role of informal policing structures in crime control with particular
reference to vigilante service groups in Anambra state, south east Nigeria. Despite the efforts
made by the formal policing towards controlling crime in the state, it is evident that they cannot
effectively and efficiently discharge the role of crime control independently. It was established in
the study that the role of informal policing structures in crime control is indispensable is
sustained success and progress must be recorded in that sector. There is need to also create a
synergistic relationship between the formal and informal policing structures so they can begin to
see themselves as complementing each other and not as competitors.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of the study, the paper recommends the following:
1. It was established in this study that the police alone cannot effectively and
efficiently police the society. It is therefore recommended that informal policing
structures be adequately equipped through provision of funds, equipments and strong
enabling laws that would guarantee their independent and unbiased discharge of their
security functions. The old order of compelling the vigilante groups to report their
operations to the police should be done away with. This is because it constitutes a clog in
the wheel of proper discharge of their duty.
2. A concerted effort towards having a synergistic relationship between the formal
and informal policing outfits in the state is recommended. This is particularly important
due to the fact that the presence of this would ensure a complementary working
relationship that would further improve on the efforts and progress made so far in terms
of policing.
3. Constant training and retraining of vigilante service group members would
enhance their efficiency on the job. There should be room for regular training to equip
them with knowledge on modern ways of fighting crime especially at the community
level.
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4. Motivation of vigilante members is crucial and as such should be taken seriously
as it will enable them get dedicated to service. Outstanding members should therefore be
recognized to boost the morale of other officers. An excellence award unit should
therefore be set up in the office of the governor of the state to kick start this all important
project
5. Motivation of vigilante members is crucial and as such should be taken seriously
as it will enable them get dedicated to service. Outstanding members should therefore be
recognized to boost the morale of other officers. An excellence award unit should
therefore be set up in the office of the governor of the state to kick start this all important
project
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