Efficiency and Effectiveness of Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) and Insecurity in Southwest, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33445/psssj.2026.7.1.2Keywords:
Western Nigeria Security Network, Insecurity, Security Challenges, Effectiveness, EfficiencyAbstract
The study aims to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), known as “Amotekun,” in addressing insecurity in Southwest Nigeria. The research is grounded in the social contract theory, which provides a theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between the state and citizens in ensuring security. A survey research design was employed. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select respondents. The study population comprised 16,131,900 individuals across three states (Ogun, Osun, and Ondo), and the sample size (n = 400) was determined using the Taro Yamane formula at a 5% level of precision (e = 0.05).Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and chi-square (χ²) tests for hypothesis testing at a 0.05 significance level, while secondary data were analysed using content analysis. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between WNSN activities and perceived changes in insecurity in Southwest Nigeria. However, the effectiveness of WNSN is assessed as partial, indicating that its capacity to fully address security challenges remains limited. The study recommends increased funding, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, and continuous training and retraining of personnel to improve the operational effectiveness of WNSN in addressing security challenges in the region.
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