Co-Creating Knowledge and Security Synergy; The Dimensional Approach to Policing the States in South-Western, Nigeria.

The study examines co-creation of knowledge on security synergies birthing approaches to combat the recurring security threats in South-western, Nigeria. The prevailing security challenges in the region undermines the formalised institutional policing, defies professionalism of security agencies to enhance the sprout of regional criminal networks. Despite adoption of modern policing practices, crime and violence persisted. Therefore, the study identified notable gap in the nuanced understanding of dimensional security approaches to combating crime in towns, cities in South-west, Nigeria. The contingency policing theory provided the theoretical explanation, the descriptive research design was adopted. Relying on qualitative method, study areas was clustered into Ibadan, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti, Ijebu Ode and Owo town. The Local security network comprising Amotekun security network, the Vigilante group of Nigeria (VGN), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were purposively. Thirty Interviews were conducted with Amotekun groups (10) NPF (5), NSCDC (5), VGN (7) and community leaders (3) were sampled. Data were content analysed using deductive approach. Knowledge co-creation, synergised policing approaches rapidly mitigated violent and property crime, dislodged criminal enclaves restores trust in security system. The paper revealed that there is a cordial work relationship between Amotekun and other security outfit and the synergy has been very effective. Also, the security outfit has made significant positive impact in mitigating major crimes in the community, including armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and thuggery. Despite the successes of Amotekun, the security network is bedeviled with lack of modern security gadget which affect their operations with other agencies. It is imperative that government provides adequate gadget for Amotekun security network for the security of Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria.