VIGILANTISM AND ITS IMPACT ON CRIME PREVENTION IN ANGWAN RUKUBA COMMUNITY IN JOS NORTH LGA, PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

Vigilantism has emerged as a critical mechanism for community-based security in Nigeria, particularly in regions where formal policing is perceived as inadequate. This study examines the impact of vigilantism on crime prevention in the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, addressing a significant empirical gap in context-specific security research. Grounded in Social Control Theory and Social Contract Theory, the study analyzes how the breakdown of institutional bonds and a perceived "broken contract" with the state drive residents toward informal self-help measures. Adopting a cross-sectional research design, the study utilized a structured questionnaire to gather primary data from 392 respondents across five strategic locations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square analysis to determine the relationship between institutional security failure and vigilante emergence. The findings reveal that 40.1% of respondents identified inadequate police presence as the primary motivator for vigilantism, while 75% reported a significant reduction in crime following the operation of these groups. The statistical evidence confirms that while vigilantism effectively fills immediate security voids, it operates outside formal legal frameworks, raising concerns about long-term accountability. The study concludes that vigilantism is a necessary but temporary response to state fragility. It recommends the formal integration of vigilante groups into community policing frameworks and a strengthening of formal police capacity to restore institutional trust and ensure sustainable social order.