Legitimacy of Non-State Armed Groups in Conflict Management in Northwest Nigeria

This study analyses the legitimacy claims of non-state armed groups, specifically vigilante associations and self-defence militias, in conflict management across the Northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria, focusing on Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states. The proliferation of armed vigilante groups as de facto security providers in banditry-affected communities raises fundamental questions about legitimacy, accountability, and the prospects for sustainable peace under non-state security governance. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 30 vigilante leaders, community elders, government officials, and conflict analysts, supplemented by focus group discussions with community members in Anka, Safana, and Binji local government areas. The theoretical framework draws from legitimacy theory and hybrid governance frameworks. Findings indicate that community populations in high-conflict Northwest zones attribute significant social legitimacy to vigilante groups based on proximity, speed of response, and cultural resonance, in contrast to formal security institutions perceived as remote and ineffective. However, vigilante legitimacy is provisional and conditioned on non-predatory conduct, with documented instances of vigilante extortion and ethnic targeting eroding community trust. The study concludes that ignoring vigilante actors in formal conflict management architectures is counterproductive. Recommendations include developing formal engagement protocols between government security agencies and accountable vigilante networks, establishing conduct standards for vigilante conflict management roles, and investing in community oversight mechanisms for non-state security actors. Keywords: non-state armed groups, legitimacy, conflict management, Northwest Nigeria, vigilantes.