Enhancing Security within Residential Neighborhoods in Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The current wave of insecurity in Nigeria has become a serious challenge within residential neighborhoods in many cities. This paper assess the security challenges within residential neighborhoods in Jos, with the view to suggesting measures for enhancing security for optimum comfort and livability of residents. Data for the study were obtained using questionnaire while mean score used for the analysis. Factors responsible for insecurity were progressive decline in quality of governance leading to high unemployment and widespread hardship, religious extremism and inadequate enforcement of laws for combating crime and religious extremism. Theft and burglary, vandalism and armed robbery were the main forms of insecurity identified. The impact of insecurity  increase in household budget in search for alternative security, loss of man-hour due to shorten working hours as a result of fear; loss of limbs and lives of family members. The study suggested entrenching good governance that provides basic necessities of life, installation of modern security gadgets in addition to presence of armed security, inculcating religious tolerance among the adherents of the major religions and strong judiciary that upholds the rule of law for punishing crime as measures by punishing crime as measures for combating insecurity within the study area.