AN ASSESSMENT OF VIGILANTE GROUPS EFFECTIVENESS IN CURBING HERDSMEN VIOLENCE AND KIDNAPPING IN DELTA STATE: A STUDY OF ETHIOPE EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

Abstract

This study assesses the effectiveness of vigilante groups in curbing herdsmen violence and kidnapping in Delta State, with particular focus on Ethiope East Local Government Area. The increasing cases of violent clashes between herdsmen and local communities, alongside the rising incidents of kidnapping, have posed severe threats to peace, security, and socio-economic development in the region. The inability of conventional security agencies to adequately address these challenges has led to the emergence and reliance on vigilante groups as complementary security actors in many rural and semi-urban communities. Routine Activity Theory was used to explain the roles and effectiveness of the roles vigilante groups are playing in the war against herdsmen violence and kidnapping in Ethiope East Local Government Area. Simple percentage and chi- square was used to test the hypotheses while 482 sampled respondents completed a structured questionnaire that was used to collect data from respondents. The study finds that vigilante groups have played major roles in the war against herdsmen violence and kidnapping in Ethiope east. The study also finds that vigilante groups deployed strategies against herdsmen violence and kidnapping in Ethiope East Local Government Area is helping to reduce the frequent activities of herdsmen violence and kidnapping in Ethiope East Local Government Area. The study recommend among others the need for Government to provide adequate training, modern security gadgets, and financial support to vigilante groups in Ethiope East Local Government Area to enhance their effectiveness in combating herdsmen violence and kidnapping.