INFORMAL SECURITY AND CRIME MANAGEMENT IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMNT

This study examined how informal security manage crime in Makurdi local government. The study adopted survey research design and used questionnaire and interviews as instruments for data collection. The study used both primary and secondary data and adopted the defensible space theory as its framework of analysis. Findings revealed that informal security structures are adopted by communities and the Benue state government because of the rise in the level of crime, their availability, accessibility, more knowledge about crime in their communities, closeness to the people and the ease to approach them for criminal challenges. Another Finding revealed that informal security structures have impacted positively on crime management in Benue state by arresting and handing over criminals to the police, making patrols in the night, providing security in markets and settling disputes and disagreements among community members. The study equally discovered that the informal security structures have impacted negatively on crime management in Benue state by violating the rights of citizens in the course of their operations. The group was noted with challenges of lack of operational equipments, lack of funds, lack of recognition by the government and poor screening/incompetent membership. It was recommended that the informal security in Makurdi should be provided with operational equipments with a body set to monitor its usage of guns, should be trained, should exist at the local government level and financed by both the state and local governments to enhance their salient role on crime management in Makurdi local government.