SACRALIZED SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL NEGLECT: EXAMINING FAITH-BASED SECURITY IN THE SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Over-reliance on religious and traditional forms of protection, such as deities, charms, holy mass, Christian night vigils, and spiritual rites, which are not enough against modern threats, like cybercrime, armed robbery, kidnapping and terrorism lack evidence-based investigations, delay in emergency response, incompatibility with formal legal systems, lack technological innovation in mitigating of the recent insecurity in South-East Nigeria. There is a noticeable research gap in understanding how the dependency on religious and traditional forms of protection undermines the development and effectiveness of modern, technology-based security systems. This gap limits comprehensive policy and community responses to rising contemporary threats. The study uses Ulrich Beck's Risk Society Theory to examine how the growing reliance on religious and traditional methods of security in South-East Nigeria is inadequate in addressing the complex, modern risks. The theory highlights the urgent need for adopting technological solutions to effectively manage and respond to these emerging security threats. The study utilizes the mixed method of data collection through Surveys/Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Participant Observation and Case Studies. The method provides deep insights into the comprehensive understanding, contextual depth and addresses complexity. This approach is relevant for understanding the interplay between religion, culture, and technology in fight against contemporary insecurity in South-East. This method reveals that sole reliance on faith-based means of managing security has been insufficient in effectively addressing the complex and evolving security challenges in Southeast Nigeria. It highlights the need to integrate modern technological approaches to enhance security outcomes in the region.