AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE OF STATE INTERVENTION INTO VIGILANTE GROUPS ACTIVITIES IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

The study was titled the nature of state intervention into vigilante groups’ activities in Benue State-Nigeria. The specific objective of the study was to: examine the nature of state intervention into vigilante groups’ activities in Benue state. The paper was empirical in nature. Conflict theory was the adopted theory for the study. The sample size of the study was 400 respondents which were determined using Taro-Yamane’s measure for sample determination. The population of the study was drawn from members of the public, vigilante officials, religious leaders, traditional ruler, and police officers resident in the study area. The study employed multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaire, observation and interview were the instruments used for data collection. Data was analyzed, presented and interpreted in statistical form using percentage distribution. The study findings show that: that the state has intervened into vigilante groups’ activities in Benue state. The nature of state intervention into vigilante groups’ activities in Benue state is in the perspective of logistics, legislation, training, and structural reorganization of the agency. The study established that, with state intervention into vigilante groups activities, vigilante groups have become a formalised, uniformed, and ranked agency. The study recommends the following among others: provision of basic crime fighting equipment, adequate funding of vigilante groups, more 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, official corruption should be checkmated among vigilantes.