Roles of Private Security Guards in Security Maintenance in

The Private Security Industry is a potential instrument for combating security threat in the world. In most countries, they are used to complement the regular government security agencies to combat the increase of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes. The private security guards are a major component of the industry and their roles cannot be over emphasized. Without any kind of prejudice, one can safely say that the private security guards have a very important role to play in the maintenance of security in Nigeria. This is clearly evident or seen by the high number of clients who employ their s ervices through the private security companies that employ them. This paper is hinged on the multilateral security theory. It was concluded that the private security sector (the major employer o f private security guards) contribute to maintenance of law an d order and the protection of lives and property of both private and public clients. Amongst other things, the study recommends that the government should provide training and financial support of the private security agencies.