Behind the Badge: Unraveling the Attitude of the Police towardsVigilante activities in Osun State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The Nigerian Police Force is the statutory body saddled with the protection of lives and property.  Unfortunately, mistrust exists between the police and the citizens for perceived corruption and reported abuse of citizens' freedom. As a result, people resort to the use of vigilante for the protection of lives and property. The normalization of vigilante groups for crime prevention poses a challenge to the security architecture of the country and leads to a conclusion that ignores the attitude of the Police to the indiscriminate use of vigilante for crime prevention. Questionnaires were administered to police officers who have spent not less than five years of service in the Police Force. Police officers expressed disapproval for the activities of the vigilante and contend that the activities of the vigilante groups undermine their statutory responsibility to curb crime and protect the society.