Author(s) :

ROLAND AIWONE, MAGAJIYA TANKO, PhD.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Abstract This article examines the escalating challenge of banditry in Kaduna State, Nigeria, focusing on the role of local security outfits, especially the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS), in addressing this threat. Using Securitization Theory as the analytical framework, the study explains how banditry is framed as a security issue through political discourse and practice. Employing a qualitative approach based on secondary data analysis, the research draws from diverse sources, including academic literature, government reports, policy documents, and media accounts, to assess the effectiveness, structure, and limitations of KADVS and community policing initiatives. The findings reveal that KADVS has secured some successes in intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and rescuing abductees. However, its overall impact is limited by challenges such as inadequate funding, insufficient training, and weak coordination with formal security agencies. The study also critiques the partial implementation of community policing policies, emphasizing the lack of genuine community engagement and transparency. Further concerns arise from the proliferation of informal vigilante groups, which often operate without clear accountability or respect for human rights. Structural factors like poverty, youth unemployment, poor governance, and marginalization are identified as root causes sustaining the banditry menace. The article concludes that while local security outfits and community policing are vital components in the fight against banditry, they require systemic reforms, adequate resources, and effective institutional oversight to function effectively. It recommends adopting a comprehensive, community-centred security framework aligned with democratic principles, and one that also addresses the underlying socio-economic conditions driving insecurity in Kaduna State.

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