Pro-Government Militias

Plateau State Vigilante Group (Nigeria)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder:	no
PGM ID Number:	476
Country:	Nigeria
Date formed:	March 20, 1984
Accuracy of date formed:	day
Details of Formation:	Vigilante groups first received government support in 1984 and thereby became a PGM. Government support was re-affirmed in 2011 and 2012 and coordinated at supra-state level with the governments of Niger, Kogi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory.
Date dissolved:	Unknown
Accuracy of date dissolved:	day
Details of Termination:
Termination Type(s):	not terminated

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s):	none
Successor group(s):	none
Private Military Company?	noinf
Former Group?	no information
Former Armed Group?	no information
Former Rebel Group?	no information
Former Rebel Group UCDP ID:	none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group?	no information
Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID:	none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation:	semi-official (type 2)
Created by the Government?:	no information
Main Creating Government Institution:	none
Government Link(s):	sub-national government
If link to party, name of party:	None
Training and Equipment:	yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations:	yes
Shared Personnel:	no
Type(s) of Material Support:	domestic government
State Sponsor(s):	none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership:	no information
Primary Membership:	no information
Alternative Primary Membership:	no information
Location:	Plateau State, especially in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos Local Government Areas
Force Strength:	[unknown, unknown]
Target(s):	criminals
Purpose(s):	protect property and investment; self-defense and security; anti crime

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s):	none
Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting:	not applicable
Ethnic Membership:	none
Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership:	not applicable
Ethnic Purpose:	none
Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose:	not applicable

Other Information

Other Information:

The Plateau state promised every support and assistance to the existing vigilante group and their purpose crime prevention, which suggest the Plateau state vigilante group is armed. Other states in Nigeria may possess similar vigilante groups, but evidence on whether those groups are armed is missing: Delta State Vigilante Groups, Kaduna State Vigilante Group, Kano State Vigilante Group, Osun State Vigilante Group and Yobe State Vigilante Group (see evidences). See also similar federal state-sponsored State Vigilante Groups in the databank.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose:	The government supported the militia so that it can assist regular armed forces in resolving the domestic security situation. The militia was supposed to integrate the local and traditional social structures into security provision.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use	unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians:	No information.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians:	unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced?	no information
PGM Members Paid?	no information
Reasons for Membership:	No information.
PGM Members Killed?	rarely

PGM Size

Size:

No information.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: