British Journal of Arts and Social Sciences ISSN: 2046-9578, Vol.14 NoI (2013) ©BritishJournal Publishing, Inc. 2013 http://www.bjournal.co.uk/BJASS.aspx 37 An Assessment of the Performance of Informal Security Structures in Community Crime Control in Metropolitan Lagos Adejoh Pius Enechojo Sociology Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria E-mail: piusadejoh@yahoo.com; piusadejoh@gmail.com Tel: +234-8023599648 Abstract: Informal security structures (ISS) have become a part of the everyday security landscape of most communities across Nigeria, due to the cluelessness of the formal police to the security challenges in the country. Some state governments have also endorsed ISS as part of their campaign against crime. In Lagos State, three broad categories of ISS are identifiable namely, state-organised, community-organised and individual house-owner/occupant employed. This study examined the perceptions of residents across four local government areas of metropolitan Lagos regarding the performance of ISS groups in community crime control. Cross-sectional survey design was used to generate quantitative data from 1,107 community members aged 18years and above while in-depth interviews and focus group discussion methods were used to generate qualitative data from members of ISS, Police personnel and community leaders. The qualitative data were content analysed while simple percentages were used to analyse the quantitative data. Informal security groups were found to play remarkable role in neighbourhood crime control; they also enjoy support despite reported excesses. It was recommended that all ISS have to be duly registered and made to operate within the law in order for the State to maximize their full crime control potentials. Key words: Neighbourhood policing, Community governance, Neighbourhood safety, Vigilante.