BETWEEN RIVALRY AND RESPONSIBILITY: NPF–NSCDC RELATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF SECURITY IN RIVERS STATE

This study seeks to investigate the motivating factors that have Inter-Agency, continuously fueled the incessant Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerian NPF, NS&CDC, Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC)inter-agency conflicts and the effects Military. on security management in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and three hypotheses. The population of the study was 19,333 for the Nigeria Police Force and 7000 for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps totaling 26,333. Using Taro Yamane scientific formula, the sample size of 400 was obtained for both NPF and the NSCDC. The data for the study was collected using a self-styled instrument; ‘NPF and NSCDC’s inter-agency conflicts and security management’. The instrument was measured using Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Test Model and 0.82 reliability index was obtained. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics while Pearson moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyzed the hypotheses. The findings revealed that superiority contest, corruption, weak and inept leadership, roles ambiguity, mutual distrust among others is the foundation for the sustained inter-agency conflicts between the two security agencies in Rivers State. Based on the above, it is recommended that among other things; the leadership of both agencies must lead by example, roles should be unambiguously delineated, and provision of adequate welfare should be made for officers among others.