Non-State Actors and Security Management in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is confronted with many security challenges, including insurgency and banditry. The activities of violent non-state actors have continued to ravage the country. During the first quarter of 2024, there were almost 100 violent conflict incidents across 25 states, with a significant number of victims or casualties. The Northwest region was the most troubled of Nigeria’s six regions during this period. Insecurity in Nigeria has adversely affected livelihoods, human safety, and investment opportunities. Towards addressing this challenge, non-state actors have become a strategic component of the nation’s security apparatuses. These actors have operated over the years in the form of hunter guilds, community associations or private security outfits, among others. Some state governments have gone a step further by legislating into existence these extra-security bodies, which are now saddled with the responsibilities of the formal security organizations. This paper interrogates the efficacy of these non-state bodies as instruments of peace, order, and security in the state. Anchored on the principal-agency, human security, and securitization theories in explaining the work’s various dimensions, the study adopts both the primary and secondary sources of data. It argues that while non-state actors have contributed significantly to the nation’s security, they are limited by various constitutional, operational, and societal factors in the effective discharge of their duties. The paper recommends, among others, the need to prioritize security reforms, especially conflict mitigation by focusing on the root causes of conflict and promoting cooperation among key stakeholders in the conflict process.