Community Policing and Civil-Military Collaboration

:A Path to Sustainable Security in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria’s security architecture faces unprecedented challenges, including insurgency, terrorism, farmer–herder conflicts, kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes. Conventional responses, dominated by militarised and centralised approaches, have proven inadequate, eroding public trust and leaving operational vacuums exploited by violent non‑state actors. This study examines the intersection of community policing and civil–military collaboration as pathways to sustainable security in Nigeria. Drawing on Social Capital Theory, Security Governance Theory, and the Collaborative Governance Model, it situates these approaches within broader debates on legitimacy, accountability, and multi‑actor participation. Community policing, introduced in 2004 with international and local support, sought to decentralise policing and foster trust between law enforcement and communities. While pilot programmes recorded modest successes, implementation has been undermined by underfunding, inadequate training, political interference, and weak legislative backing. Civil–military collaboration, increasingly deployed against insurgency and banditry, has enhanced operational capacity but raised concerns about militarisation, human rights abuses, and accountability deficits. The study identifies weak institutional frameworks, fragmented implementation, and persistent trust deficits as major obstacles, while highlighting the potential of integrated, community‑centred models. It proposes reforms anchored in training, measurable security outcomes, and governance frameworks aligned with Nigeria’s development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable security requires a paradigm shift from reactive, force‑driven strategies to inclusive, trust‑based, collaborative governance that strengthens the social contract between state and citizens.