INFORMAL POWER DYNAMICS AND GRASSROOTS POLICING: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES IN THE SECURITY ARCHITECTURE OF YEWA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Clearly, Nigeria is currently facing rising security challenges that include community conflicts, kidnapping, farmer–herder clashes, terrorism, banditry, ritual killings, and so on. One of the established institutions tasked with curbing such issues, managing conflicts among or between members of a community, and preserving the customs and traditions of the people through established laws and customs is the traditional rulership. This study assessed the role of traditional rulers in tackling security challenges, with a focus on Yewa North Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to examine the role of traditional rulers in security management, evaluate their effectiveness in addressing security challenges, and identify the challenges they face in maintaining security. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select 400 respondents. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that traditional rulers play significant roles in intelligence gathering, conflict resolution, community policing, and mediation in security matters. However, their efforts are constrained by a lack of constitutional recognition, inadequate resources, political interference, and poor collaboration with formal security agencies. The study concludes that traditional rulers remain vital actors in grassroots security governance. It recommends that the government should formally integrate them into the national security framework, provide adequate resources for community-based security initiatives, and enhance collaboration with security agencies to improve effectiveness.