COMMUNITY VIGILANTISM AND STATE SECURITY ARCHITECTURE: AN EVALUATION OF LOCAL SECURITY MEASURES IN PLATEAU STATE.

Abstract

Community vigilantism has become a central feature of local security governance in Plateau State as communities respond to persistent insecurity, slow state response and recurrent violent attacks. This study evaluated the roles, interactions and implications of community-based security mechanisms such as vigilante groups, hunters’ associations and youth patrols within the broader state security architecture. It adopted a descriptive mixed-methods design, combining surveys of 422 respondents with 18 key informant interviews and 12 focus group discussions across six conflict-affected Local Government Areas (LGAs). The findings indicated that vigilante groups significantly enhance rapid response capacity and crime deterrence as they play crucial roles in securing communities alongside police and local leaders, though they also face challenges due to lack of legal backing and training. In terms of outcomes, vigilantism generally reduces violence at the local level but it blurs lines of authority and raises accountability concerns. The study concluded that while community-based security actors provided valuable support by extending ‘state’ security into localities, their effectiveness requires better institutional integration. Accordingly, policies should aim to address root causes of insecurity, provide formal oversight such as legal recognition, training and resources for vigilante groups and strengthen collaboration between communities and state security forces.