COMMUNITY POLICING AND CRIME REDUCTION IN IVO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is currently bedevilled by various acts of criminalities which appear to have gone beyond the control of Nigeria Police, hence the persistent clamour for community policing across the country to arrest the situation. This study sought to establish the extent to which community policing has assisted in crime reduction in Ebonyi State with particular reference to Ivo Local Government Area (LGA). Specifically, the study examined the extent to which community policing has facilitated reduction of armed robbery attacks in Ivo LGA and equally ascertained the extent to which community policing has promoted protection of lives and property in the area. The study adopted Community Security theory of change propounded by Asia Foundation in 2012. The chi-square inferential statistics was utilized for data analysis. The study revealed that community policing has significantly facilitated reduction of armed robbery attacks in Ivo LGA and that community policing has significantly promoted the protection of lives and property in the area. The implication of the findings is that community policing has proven to be an effective strategy to ensure security in the localities. The study therefore, recommended that community members should collaborate with community security apparatus to beef up surveillance in their domains in order to reduce armed robbery activities in the Area and that community members in concert with vigilante groups/neighbourhood watch should always report suspicious movements to the police for prompt actions in the area.