EVALUATION AND ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING (VIGILANTE) IN COMBATING CRIME IN EKITI LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KWARA STATE

This paper was on evaluation and enhancing the effectiveness of community-based policing (vigilante) in combating crime in Ekiti Local Government of Kwara State. The work identified the roles of traditional vigilante groups in community policing in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State; found the extent to which crime constituted social menace in the area; assessed the impact of the vigilante groups in crime control in Local Government Area; determine the extent to which vigilantism has help in controlling crime in those communities; examined the problems militating against the optimal use vigilante groups to curtail crime in Ekiti and; suggested the best ways to improve the performance of the roles of the traditional vigilante groups in community policing in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State. The descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study, with the use of 330 respondents who were purposively and randomly sampled. An adapted questionnaire and interview guide was used in the study for data collection. Data collected was analysed using frequency counts, percentage scores and thematic analysis technique. Findings of the study indicated that: vigilante groups existed to save the lives and properties of people in Ekiti L.G.A. It also showed that the rate of crime was high before the formation of vigilante groups in its current form and low after the formation of the vigilante groups. It was also discovered that high rate of crime and police ineffectiveness led to the formation of the vigilante groups in its current form. More so, vigilante groups were perceived to be effective in crime control but are facing the problems of: lack of modern weapon to carry out their work effectively, poor funding and lack of mobility for them to use among others. The study concluded and recommended that: The role of community police is quite indispensable in combating crime perpetration and creation of social menace, risks and loss to the lives and properties of people in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State. It recommended that: Government should provide more modern security equipment for the vigilante group in combating crime in the LGA, provide funds adequately in paying the allowances and salaries of the Community-police members and that vigilante members should be well trained and operate within the frame work of the law amongst others.