THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CURBING KIDNAPPING AND BANDITRY IN TARABA STATE

Abstract

This paper examines the role of law enforcement agencies in curbing kidnapping and banditry in Taraba State. The objectives of the study are to assess the effectiveness of the law enforcement agencies in preventing, detecting, and responding to kidnapping and banditry attacks, identify their challenges, and to examines their relationship with the affected communities in addressing the problem. The paper employed qualitative descriptive research and relies on secondary sources of data. The paper is anchored on structural functionalism as a theoretical framework of analysis. The findings in the study reveals that efforts at preventing and detecting kidnapping and banditry were hampered by inter- agency rivalry, inability of the people to provide intelligence information to the law enforcement agencies, lack of modern technological gadgets, and corruption of the judiciary undermines the fight of preventing, detecting and responding to kidnapping and banditry in Taraba State. The paper concludes that kidnapping and banditry were caused by harsh economic conditions and poverty and lack of employment opportunities. The paper recommends interagency cooperation and sharing of intelligence, citizens and community support by providing information on criminal activities and hideouts and punishment of kidnappers and bandits.