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THE PHENOMENON OF VIGILANTE GROUPS AND CRIME CONTROL IN BENUE STATE
ABSTRACT
The study examines the phenomenon of vigilante groups and crime control in Benue State. Conflict theory was the adopted theory for the study. The sample size of the study was 400 respondents. The population of the study was members of the vigilante, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and police officers. The study employed questionnaire, observation and interview as the instruments used for data collection. Data was presented using percentage distribution. The study finds that vigilante groups have positive impact on crime control in Benue state; the factors accounting for the proliferation of vigilante groups in Benue State include ineffectiveness of the police, increase in insecurity, need for affordable crime control system and accessible crime control mechanism, and the need for swift justice system. That the lower class of the society patronize vigilante groups more than any other classes of the society, the reasons people patronize vigilante groups, are: high cost of attaining formal justice system, delays in the formal justice system, desire for a cost effective justice, need for a swift justice system among others. The study recommends the following among others: provision of basic crime fighting equipment, adequate funding of vigilante groups, logistics should be made available for vigilante groups, respect for the fundamental human rights of suspects, proper and effective training of vigilante personnel, enactment of laws establishing vigilante groups.
Key words: Vigilante Groups and Crime Control