Self-help security, a threat to Nigeria

By Nelson Aluya “Government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety.” The recent mob killing of 16 suspected hunters – traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano – in Uromi, Edo State, underscores the worsening state of Nigeria’s security architecture. This tragic incident is a reflection of deep-seated problems in the country’s policing structure, the […]

By Nelson Aluya

“Government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety.” The recent mob killing of 16 suspected hunters – traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano – in Uromi, Edo State, underscores the worsening state of Nigeria’s security architecture.

This tragic incident is a reflection of deep-seated problems in the country’s policing structure, the breakdown of law enforcement, and the failure of state security operatives to coordinate effectively with local security actors.

With the rising trend of mob justice and self-help measures by citizens frustrated by insecurity, Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads. Without urgent reforms, the nation risks further descent into lawlessness, where citizens take security matters into their own hands with devastating consequences.

The major issue contributing to this crisis is the fragmented nature of Nigeria’s policing structure. Robert Kennedy, the 64th United States attorney general from January 1961 to September 1964, said, “Every society gets the kind of criminals it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on.”

The Nigeria Police Force is overstretched, underfunded, and heavily politicized, with reports of about 50% of its over 371,000 of its workforce deployed to protect politicians, businessmen, and high-profile individuals who can afford it, leaving communities vulnerable to crime and violence.

The lack of an effective state policing system means that local security remains weak, forcing communities to rely on vigilante groups, hunters, and self-defense initiatives, which often lack the necessary training, structure, and oversight to function professionally.

The mob killing in Uromi is a consequence of this broken system, where misinformation and fear lead to extrajudicial actions against innocent people. The proliferation of arms, illegal migration, and the failure to properly regulate vigilante groups further complicate the security landscape.

In most cases, unregulated vigilante groups in several states operate without clear guidelines, leading to conflicts with individuals, communities, and state security operatives. The groups sometimes engage in unlawful activities.

There is an urgent need to restructure and modernize Nigeria’s security apparatus, ensuring that vigilante groups and local security outfits are properly trained, registered, and integrated into a well-coordinated state and national security framework.

This would require new policies on gun control, clear operational guidelines for local security actors, and improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms between the police, military, and community-based security groups.

The herder-farmer conflict, border control failures, and the influx of illegal arms and drugs into Nigeria also play a significant role in fueling insecurity. A thorough legislative review and the implementation of Nigeria’s grazing and herding policies are necessary to address longstanding tensions.

Strengthening national border controls and cracking down on the illegal arms trade must be a priority to prevent further escalation of violence. Without decisive action, the increasing availability of weapons in civilian hands will only embolden non-state actors, exacerbating the culture of self-help justice and mob violence.

The government at the federal and state levels must educate the people on the dangers of jungle justice, the legal consequences of extrajudicial killings, and their role citizens in supporting security agencies. It is also crucial to dismantle the weaponization of poverty and ignorance by the elite political class.

Local government structures must equally be strengthened to facilitate better communication between communities and law enforcement agencies, ensuring timely responses to security threats and reducing reliance on self-help measures. Ultimately, the time for state policing is now.

Nigeria needs to review the National Economic Council’s recommendation that has been backed by state governors as it is the right step in the right direction. There should be a well-structured, well-funded, and accountable state policing system, with governors assuming full responsibility as chief security officers of their states.

This must be accompanied by the modernization and professionalization of vigilante groups to serve as complementary security personnel rather than rogue elements. An organized and technology-driven security network will not only restore confidence in law enforcement but also curb the rising wave of Nigerians taking laws into their hands.

If Nigeria fails to act now, the unchecked culture of mob action and self-help in security matters will continue to pose an existential threat to the unity, stability, and prosperity of Nigeria.

Dr. Nelson Aluya, a medical practitioner, writes from New Jersey, United States.