IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY (JHSP )

E-ISSN 2545-5729
P-ISSN 2695 2416
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jhsp.vol.11.no2.2025.pg1.13

---

Civilian Joint Taskforce and Peace Building: The Role of OSPAC in Rivers State

Poroma, CL PhD, Ekine, ThankGod George

---

Abstract

The idea of community policing has been at the front-burner of security discourse of late. This study examines Civilian Joint Task-Force and Peace Building: The role of OSPAC in Rivers State. It aims at presenting an alternative as well as harmonizing the operations of the various vigilante groups in Rivers State. The main Objective of the study is to examine the viability of the Civilian Joint Task-Force and Peace building agency called OSPAC as a model for community policing in Rivers State. The study adopted community implant theory propounded by Rosenbaum (1987) to support the use of OSPAC vigilante in crime control. The research method adopted is Qualitative design by the use of historical information through Primary and Secondary data. The presence of the outfit in six Local Government Areas of Rivers State namely; Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (Onelga), Ikwerre, Etche, Obio/Akpor, Emuoha and Khana shows the acceptance of OSPAC by the people in their quest to fight crime. The study found out that the outfit is not only accepted by the people but that crime has indeed been brought to a bearable level in these local Government Areas. The paper therefore recommends the adoption of the OSPAC model of civilian joint task force in peace building as the model for community policing in Rivers State, working in synergy with the Nigeria Police Force and the military. It should be replicated in all local government areas of the state.

keywords:

Civilian Joint Task-Force, Community policing, Peace Building, OSPAC.

---

References:

Adiele, I. B and Emeodu, E. N. (2022). “OSPAC Vigilante Outfit and
Crime Control in Emuoha and Etche Local Government Areas of Rivers State”
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (i-jtsrd), 6(2),
1054-1061,
Adigwe (2013): Crime, Vigilantism, and Electoral Violence in Nigeria. Journal of Political
Science.
Bohm, R. and K.N. Haley (2005): Introduction to Criminal Justice. 4th edition. New York: Mc-
Graw Hill.
Chukwuma, U.M.(2017). Community Policing Nigeria: Myth or Reality. Port Harcourt: Uma
Dynamic Services Limited.
Civilian Security Panel on Police reform in Nigeria Report (2012)
Dampsey, A.S, (2000). Society and Crime Control, Vox Nigeria Press.
Emeodu, E.N. & Elem, M (2021): Indigenous Security Outfit and socio-economic
development in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Emuoha LGAs. Rivers State. An
Unpublished thesis of sociology Department, IAUE, Rivers State.
Eweh, Onyemachi, Youth President, Omoku, ONELGA Rivers State. Interviewed on 22-8-
Hills, A. (2014). Policing Plurality of the World. Oxfor University Press.
Hills, A. (2008). ‘The Dialectic of Police Reform in Nigeria’, Journal of Modern African
Studies
vol.46,no.2, pp.215-234.
Ibeanu, O. (2007): Criminal Justice Reforms: Policing Services Delivery”, in reforming for
Justice, ed. Joseph Chima Otteh, Apapa: Access to Justice.
Lawan, M. (2006): Nigeria Oil and Laws for what: Business Day, 97.
Jenny, C. (2008): Community Policing: An international Literature Review, Evaluation Team,
Organizational Assurance, New Zealand Police, Wellington.
Kasali, M.A. (2012): Analyzing the Evolution of Private Security Guards and their limitations
to Security Management in Nigeria. African Journal of Criminology and Justice
Studies, 1(2):32-48.
Kpae, G. & Adishi, E. (2017): Community Policing in Nigeria in Nigeria: challenges and
prospects, International Journal of Social Science and Management Research, 3(3),
47-53.
Ogadima, C. and Rasheed A. (2017): “ The content and focus of community oriented policing
Training Programmes in Nigeria, “ International Journal of Social Science Tomorrow
Okiro, M.M (207): Forward in Community policing: Nigeria Police Force operational
handbook, Ikeja, Lagos: “F” Department and Nigeria Police Printing Press, FHQ
annex
Okorobia, A.M (2017): “The Socio-Economic Implications of Oil and Gas Production in
Nigeria: Some Preliminary Reflections”. Derefaka, A.A. and Okorobia A.M. (eds). The
Future of the Niger Delta: The search for a Relevant Narrative Port Harcourt.
Onyoma Research Publications.
Onifade, C., Imhonopui D., and Urim, U.M. (2023): Addressing insecurity challenge in
Nigeria:
the imperative of moral values and virtue ethics, Global Journal of
Human Social
Science. 13(2)52-63
Osi Olisa; Former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government
Area; Interviewed on 14-8-2024.
Prince Okwu Uchenna K. Assistant Commander OSPAC, Egi Unit, Egi, ONELGA Rivers State.
Interviewed on 21-8-2019.
Racheal, N.N (2023): ‘The Role of Community Police in Crime Prevention and Control for
the
Effective Management Wukari International Studies Journal, Vo.7, No 1. 2023
Rosenbaum, D. P.(1994): ‘The Challenge of Community Policing: Testing the promises. Sage
Publications, International Educational and Professional Publisher, Thousand Oaks,
London, New York, Delhi.
Quency, L (2009): ‘Policing the Community and International Perspective of Crime
Prevention, Harvard Press.
Quincy, R (1993): Critique of Legal Order, Crime Control in Capitalist Society. Boston: Little
Brown

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back