The Role of Community Policing in Jalingo Local Government Area

Adamu Hassan; Ahmed Jalo; Boniface Tiivh Stephen

doi:10.56201/jpslr.vol.12.no4.2026.pg194.206

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The Role of Community Policing in Jalingo Local Government Area

Adamu Hassan, Ahmed Jalo, Boniface Tiivh Stephen

Abstract

This study examines the implementation and impact of community policing in Jalingo Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria, emphasizing collaboration, trust, social capital, crime reduction, and sustainability. Community policing is a progressive law enforcement approach that prioritizes partnership between police, residents, traditional leaders, and informal security groups to enhance public safety and social cohesion. Using empirical data, theoretical frameworks, and policy analysis, the research reveals that effective community policing fosters mutual trust, enhances police responsiveness, and significantly reduces insecurity caused by theft, violence, and communal conflicts in Jalingo. The findings show that community engagement initiatives, such as neighborhood patrols, town hall meetings, and information sharing, improve crime prevention and strengthen social bonds. Traditional leadership and social capital play critical roles in mobilizing community resources, mediating conflicts, and encouraging participation. Despite these successes, challenges such as inadequate funding, low public trust, socio-economic deprivation, and limited capacity of security actors threaten the sustainability of community policing efforts. These obstacles impede the full realization of its potential to maintain long-term social order. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at empowering local communities through increased investment in capacity building, institutional support, and resource allocation. Strengthening collaboration between formal security agencies and informal actors is essential for sustainable security and social stability. This research highlights that community policing, when effectively implemented, can serve as a vital strategy for crime prevention and social development, especially in contexts marked by diverse social dynamics and complex security challenges.

Keywords

Community policingtrustcrime reductionsocial capitalsustainability. E-ISSN 2504-883X P-ISSN 2695 2432

References

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The Role of Community Policing in Jalingo Local Government Area

Abstract

Keywords

References

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