ABSTRACT
Peace, safety and security are both necessary and indispensable requirements for development and the attainment of good quality of life for any human society. Insecurity impacts negatively on all citizens through losses of property, life and limb, or through loss of confidence from fear of violence. Human safety and security are indeed human rights having a value of their own and serving an instrumental function in the construction of human contentment and prosperity.The emergence and proliferation of community based security groups at local government and state levels across Nigeria is thus a derivative of the general air of insecurity and the low performance of the formal police. In other words, these structures, like their private security counterparts emerged to fill an unmet need. In view of this background, this study analyzes the the performance of informal security structures in community crime control in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State. To address the problem of study, three research questions were raised. The researcher adopted a survey research design and in-depth interview (IDI). A total of one hundred and seven (107) respondents comprised the target of the study. Questionnaire and in-depth-interview guide were the instrument used for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), frequency tables and percentages (%) were employed in the data analysis. It was discovered that most of the respondents in the study area said crime rate was high in their community before the formation of their current informal security structures and poverty is responsible for crime in their community. The increase in crime wave led to the formation of informal security structures in their community.The informal security structures treat all people fairly,maintain good relationship with complainants, they take account of public opinion when deciding priorities and work with others to improve security and access to justices, they are efficient in controlling crime, and informal security groups are engaged in order to provide speedy safety and security services which the formal police are unable to offer, and because they are closer to the people than the formal police.  Suggestions on provision of equipment as a ways of maximizing the crime control potentials of informal security structures, informal security structures activities should be carried out by well trained, able bodied persons recruited from the community, incentives and adequate logistics should be made available to informal security groups to ensure effectiveness in their operation,

                                                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    1
1.2 Statement of the Problem    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    3
1.3 Research Questions    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    4
1.4 The Objective of the Study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    5
1.5 Significance of the Study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    5
1.6 Scope of the Study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    6
1.7 Types and Sources of Data    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    6
1.8 Unit of Analysis    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    6
1.9 Definition of Concepts    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    6
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Introduction    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    8
2.2The Forms of Informal Security Structures    -    -    -    -    -    8
2.3 The Effectiveness of Informal Security Structures in Crime Control    -    -    17
2.4 Ways of Maximizing the Crime Control Potentials of Informal Security Structures    24
2.5 Theoretical Framework    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    30
2.5.1 Relational Cohesion Community Participation Theory    -    -    -    -    30
2.5.2 Social Contract Theory    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    32

CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    33
3.1 Research Design    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    33
3.2 Location of the Study Area    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    33
3.3 Population of Study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    34
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique    -    -    -    -    -    -    35
    Sampling Procedure    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    35
3.5 Methods of Data Collection    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    36
3.6 Method of Data Analysis    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    37
3.7 Ethical Consideration    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    38
3.8 Problems Encountered in the Field    -    -    -    -    -    -    38
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Introduction    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    40
4.2 Socio Demographic Data of the Respondents    -    -    -    -    -    40
4.3 Forms of Informal Security Structure    -    -    -    -    -    -    42
4.4 Effectiveness of Informal Security Structures in Crime Control    -    -    -    50
4.5 Ways of Maximizing the Crime Control Potentials of Informal Security Structures    55
4.6 Discussion Findings    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    56
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    65
5.1 Summary of Findings    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    65
5.2 Conclusion    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    67
5.3 Recommendations    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    68
References    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    70
Appendices    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    75