Recently, there are more calls for security agencies and activities in Nigeria.[1] From traffic-jam robbers to small and high-profile kidnappers, to petty thieves to elite armed robbers capable of raiding banks. Though there may not be any perfect country, the frequency of crimes in Nigeria positions it among the most unsafe places to be.[2] The more the security agencies are deployed to secure the cities, the more the criminal activities in Nigeria. And without a structural change of the society for productivity, the number of criminals in Nigeria can only increase.
Human beings have various physical and material needs to sustain a decent life: food, house, clothing, family, health, etcetera. They go about (individually or collectively) in search of means and resources to get and sustain these elements. When they cannot obtain resources for living a comfortable and decent life, they become desperate and possibly, dangerous.[3] Human society is formed to ensure collaboration of members of the society towards multiplying and distributing resources for common good. In places where social collaboration does not lead to such distribution, desperation and eventual crime-increase become inevitable.
Second, humans are active beings, who seek to actualize their potentials through their achievements in the society.[4] They derive fulfilment when their names are associated with great, mighty or unusual social events. Through approval of events, the society directs citizens to positive or negative courses of action. Hence, by rewarding ill-gotten wealth, laziness, greed, nudity and unproductivity, the society discourages integrity, decency, honour and dignity-of-labour. For if you do not give them something good to do, they choose what is available and most promoted on the mass-media. Current situation of events shows that the number of criminals in Nigeria can only increase, instead of reduce. The level of desperation for survival is so high that people are ready to risk anything just to eat. Parents who see their children and relatives reel in hunger, disease and agony may be unable to resist criminal temptations. And the youths who are desperate for survival and attention would hardly resist the temptation to join.
Nigeria was colonially formed by joining many unconsented communities and kingdoms for exploiting resources.[5] The communities and kingdoms have never agreed to collaborate to develop, multiply and distribute their resources for common good.[6] Instead, government used the colonial-allied military to seize the communities resources for the colonialists’ industries. [7][8][9]
When young and strong people have no access to resources for production, they use their energy for destruction. So, due to the denial of access to mineral resources for industry, young men flock into internet fraud, [10] robbery, kidnapping and etcetera. Young ladies either resort to sex-trade when they are cannot get meaningful employment or join the men criminals. The current economic crunch seen now simply imply that the number of criminals in Nigeria can only increase.
Apart from the criminal motivation from poverty, hunger and desperation, other criminal orientations are prompted by media endorsements. Presently, media-handlers give high attention to nudity, costly foreign goods, bags, shoes, cars, while reports of character excellence are unreported. Girls now steal phones, clothes and hair-attachments to show off; guys dupe or rob whatever is possible to gain the social attention.
Therefore, unless ethnic communities retrieve access to their natural resources for production, the number of criminals in Nigeria can only increase. These youthful energies will continue to be misused on frivolities and dangerous activities. And unless hard-work, productivity and social responsibility are rewarded, starting from the ethnic communities, the number of criminals in Nigeria can only increase.
[1] Chiemelie Ezeobi, Nigeria: we need to pay attention to security, http://allafrica.com/stories/201109091288.html, 9-9-2011
[2] James Karuga, Most dangerous cities in Africa, http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-dangerous-cities-in-africa.html 25-04-2017
[3] Cf. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan Ed. Michael Oakeshott (New York: Macmillan, 1962).p187
[4] Cf. Austen, Accomplishment and human development in Austen’s pride and prejudice, http://www.motherservice.org/content/accomplishment-and-human-development-austens-pride-prejudice/ extracted on 24/9.2017
[5] cf. Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. New York: Public Affairs, 2010. p.445
[6] cf. Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. New York: Public Affairs, 2010. p.445
[7] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1, paragraph 2
[8] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 2, paragraph 1
[9] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1, paragraph 3
[10] Babatope Longe, Why cybercrime is high in Nigeria, reported by Kemi Olatunji, https://guardian.ng/technology/why-cyber-crime-is-rampant-by-university-teacher-longe/29-6-2017