The Role of Local Vigilante in Intelligent Gathering in Combating Insurgence in Suleja, Niger State Nigeria

This study is an investigation of the role of local vigilante outfit in intelligent gathering in combating insurgency in Nigeria using Suleja Local Government Area of Niger state as a case study. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the importance and role played by various local vigilante groups in combating crime and insurgence in Nigeria with keen focus on Suleja Local Government Area of Niger state via their contribution to its community as a voluntary security outfit known as Suleja Emirate Civil Security Corps. Survey research design was employed, cluster sampling was used and a sample size of 150 was selected using close and open ended questionnaire and interview with members of the SECSC balanced the findings. The study explored the outfit, the relationship of the informal group with their community, community heads and security agencies. The study showed that local vigilante outfit in Suleja has considerable made positive impact such as manning market and other social gathering, providing neighbourhood security, keeping watch at night, keeping watch at day time in communities where people hardly be at home during the day, providing tips to formal security agencies, securing people who are under threat, helping during emergency such as accidents, flood, fire disaster among others. Also, it uncovered challenges such as high illiteracy, poor equipment etc. faced by local vigilante outfit and suggested possible means to enhance their duties. Considering the contribution and challenges of the outfit in combating crime and insurgence in Nigeria, the study recommended that government should employ adult education system to reduce illiteracy among members of the outfit. The study also recommended among others that members of local vigilante outfit and other informal security agencies such as the Nigeria Peace Corps can be defused into federal security agencies such as the police and military instead of making the outfit another federal government agency to avoid clash in job jurisdiction and strengthen the existing agencies.