PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN DECENTRALIZED POLICING AND INTERNAL SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Authors: Prof. Iro Iro Uke & Sunday Abraham Adeniran

ABSTRACT

The increasing rate of insecurity in the Southwest, Nigeria and the inability of the Nigeria Police Force to effectively, efficiently and strategically position itself in order to perform a range of constitutional roles: protection of lives and property as well as maintenance of law and order, has led to proliferation of decentralized policing groups in contemporary Nigeria and the Southwest in particular. This article examines the nature of public confidence in the decentralized policing group in ensuring internal security. In addition, the challenges of decentralized policing in internal security management in Nigeria. This study utilized survey research design to obtain primary data through interviews. A total of 60 individual were interviewed in Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States using purposive sampling method. Data from secondary sources were collected from published books and reports both in the library and the internet. The paper argued that Citizen’s confidence in any policing group is a significant measure in determining how effective the policing group can function, as the cooperation and confidence of the public is important in combating crime and maintaining law and order.  The paper revealed that factors such as social, cultural, economic, political, and the disposition of individual security officers contribute towards the level of public confidence in the policing group. It is noted that with regard to policing strategy, community engagement, being fair at all times, foot patrols and neighbourhood policing can enhance public confidence in the police. The paper identified inadequate funding, lack of fire arm, lack of persecuting power, lack of state recognition, police victimization, and inadequate training appear as challenges confronting the decentralized policing group from fulfilling their obligations to citizens.  Based on the major findings, it was recommended that the Federal government should harmonized overlapping mandates in the various Acts establishing existing security agencies to make provision for a recognized and formidable force of community policing in the States and Local government, recruited from the community and empowered to bear firearms.

Keywords: Public Confidence, Decentralized Policing, Internal Security Management

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