THE ROLE OF VIGILANTE GROUPS IN CURBING BANDITRY IN BIRNIN GWARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA FROM 2012-2018

Abstract

Nigeria needs more than ever before the involvement of informal security actors in peace and conflict resolution. This is as a result of the multifaceted activities of banditry across different geo-political zones in the country. The problem of banditry necessitated the use of vigilante groups in Birnin Gwari LGA from 2015-2019. Despite this innovative security measure, Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna state seems not to be recording meaningful drop in the rate of banditry, hence the need for empirical verification. This study therefore, assessed the role of vigilante group in Birnin Gwari LGA from 2015-2019. Relying on both of primary and secondary sources, the paper posits that banditry constitutes a serious threat to Nigeria’s public safety and, by extension, national security.