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VIGILANTISM
AND CRIME CONTROL IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The
inability of the Nigerian Police to control the increasing wave of crime has
led to proliferation of vigilante groups in contemporary Nigeria.
This study
was initiated to investigate the impact of vigilante groups on crime control in
contemporary Nigeria, particularly in Udenu L.G.A of Enugu State. Seven hundred
and twenty (720) respondents were sampled from Udenu Local Government Area of
Enugu State. Multi-stage, cluster and simple random sampling methods were used
as the sampling techniques. Questionnaires were administered to respondents by
six (6) research assistants whereas interviews were conducted with two (2)
traditional rulers, chairman of Udenu L.G.A vigilante group, chairman of
vigilante monitoring group and 24 vigilante group members.
The result
indicated that Nigeria Police is ineffective with regard to crime control and
vigilante groups in its current form sprang up to make up for this
ineffectiveness. It also showed that vigilante groups are gaining prominence as
agents of crime control in contemporary Nigeria, particularly, Udenu L.G.A of
Enugu State. The result equally revealed that vigilante group members are
recruited and monitored through their communities and that they are effective
in crime control. Also, the result indicated that the best way of solving the
problem of crime in Nigeria is by increasing the activities of vigilante
groups. Howbeit, lack of fire arms, poor funding, lack of patrol vehicles are
the major problems confronting vigilante groups. More so, based on the major
findings, it was recommended that vigilante group members should operate within
the frame work of law. Finally, security committees should be established at
the local government level and these committees should meet periodically to
discuss security matters in their areas.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Provision of
adequate security is a social pre-requisite for the survival of any society.
Every society takes appropriate measures to protect the lives and property of
people living within its boundaries. Business and social activities may not go
on freely without adequate security. This fundamental essence of security may
be the reason why societies from time immemorial made efforts to police their
neighbourhoods in order to secure them from criminal victimization. Security
has to do with the act of preventing and protecting in order to ensure that
certain facilities, equipment, persons or activities are safe from damage,
pilferage, destruction, murder or disruption. The history of crime control
dates back to the period when public order was the responsibility of appointed
magistrates, who were unpaid private individuals. The first paid public police
officer was the praeffectus urbi, a position created in Rome in approximately
27 C (Roberg and Kuykendall, 1993). After the fall of the Roman Empire and the
subsequent anarchy that followed, kings began to assume the responsibility for
legal administration by strengthening the night watch. Roberg and Kuykendall,
(1993) also pointed out that in the twelfth century in England, through
Trankpledged’ system which was based on an organization of tithings (ten
families) and hundreds (ten tithings), men over the age of fifteen formed a
posse comitatus, a group called out to pursue fleeing felons. Thus, the sheriffs
who ensured that this Frankpledge system worked were responsible for policing
the country.
However, as
societies became increasingly complex, social life was disrupted. Existing
systems of law enforcement were inadequate to respond to the problems
associated with these
changes. As
a result, night watch system was introduced. This system involved bellmen who
walked round the city, ringing bells and providing policing services. The
bellmen were later replaced by untrained citizens and much later by paid
constables. However, in 1829, Sir Robert Peel established the first modern
uniformed police force, the metropolitan police of London, whose primary
responsibility was the prevention of crime. (Roberg and Kuykendall, 1993, Reid
5th ed..) Vigilantism is not a recent development. Before 1900, many vigilant
groups were formed in frontier areas of the United States. In 1851 and 1856,
concerned citizens in San Francisco organized vigilante committees that
forcibly restored peace and order. (world book encyclopedia, u-v20:318,
Encyclopedia Americana, vol.24:204). In south Africa, vigilante activity is frequently
justified as ‘filling a policing gap’ due to police inefficiency, corruption
and conspiracy with criminals, practical failing in the criminal justice
system. In Sierra- Leone, vigilante activities have been explained in terms of
police ineffectiveness in combating crimes (Brownyn, 2001).
In Nigeria,
vigilantism existed in the pre-colonial era. Human Right Watch and Center for
law enforcement and education report, (2002) noted that “vigilante and other
self - defense groups currently operating in Nigeria have roots that reach deep
into the country’s history. In the colonial era, some though not all
independent local communities, especially in the South east maintained their
own standing Army to defend their territory against the threat of invasion from
neighbouring communities. Although there was no equivalent modern day structure
at that time, some parallels can be drawn between these groups which were
created by local communities for their own protection, and the more recently
formed self -defense groups”. This is also true in Udenu Local Government Area
of Enugu State where vigilantism was used as a means of both social and crime
control before the advert of colonial rule.
The
proliferation of vigilante groups in contemporary Nigeria particularly in Udenu
Local Government area of Enugu State is a response to crimes and criminality
that have not only increased in degree, scope and volume but also have
witnessed an unprecedented change in techniques, mode of operation and
sophistication between 1998 and 1999 (wake of fourth republic) and the apparent
failure of the Nigeria police to rise up to the occasion. Igbo (2001:219) has
stated that “the apparent failure of Nigeria police to control the increasing
wave of crime has led to unilateral public action against crime and criminals
in some major cities of Nigeria particularly in the South east of the country”.
This is true
in Udenu Local Government Area, where, presently, vigilante groups are used as
a means of crime control due to increasing crime wave and the inability of the
formal agents of crime control to bring them under control. In view of this,
this study examined the contributions of vigilante groups in controlling crime
in contemporary Nigeria, particularly in Udenu Local Government area of Enugu
State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In recent
years, many communities in Nigeria have witnessed crimes of various
descriptions. Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State is not an exception.
Thus, crime is becoming a serious problem in contemporary Nigeria. The police
who are the primary agent in the fight against crime are ineffective. Their
ineffectiveness may be as a result of the fact that they are under-staffed,
under-equipped, corrupt and lacked public cooperation. These have created
problem of under policing in Nigeria including Udenu Local Government Area of
Enugu State. Thus, violent and property crimes are committed on daily basis
without detection and prosecution. Many people are being dispossessed of their
valuable property and others are killed or maimed for life by armed bandits.
Many people hardly sleep in their houses at night for fear of criminal
victimization. Those who sleep in their houses at Night do so at their own
peril. Consequently, Udenu Local Government Area has of recent been gripped by
insecurity and lawlessness as armed robbery and other violent crimes reached
unprecedented levels.
Hence, this
situation of insecurity and lawlessness began to affect more than just the
population of Udenu Local Government Area as traders from the neighbouring
communities who come to Udenu to transact business in Obollo-Afor and Orie
Orba, began to stay away from these towns out of fear. As a result, business
and other social activities were paralyzed.
A local
newspaper (Starlite) report captioned “Girl, 18 killed at Obollo-Afor described
how Miss Ifeyinwa Ugwueje was gruesomely murdered in Oba Guest inn on Wednesday
18 November, 2006. The same newspaper reported that “at Orba in Udenu Local
Government Area of Enugu State, the spirit of communalism, oneness, good
rapport as well as peaceful co-existence seem to have eluded the people for
some time following the rampant killings everywhere including the brutal murder
of shinkaffi who was said to be a famous and powerful youth leader. (The Starlite,
2006:5 and 13).
The increase
in crime wave and the inability of the Nigeria police to deal with the
situation effectively have given rise to the emergence of vigilante groups in
its current form. These vigilante groups are to ensure the safety of both their
lives and property and that of their families. Eke, (2002) noted that “from
time immemorial, ordinary men and women have made several sacrifices to ensure
the safety of both their lives and that of their families. That human impulse
is not only common in Nigeria. Government in Western Europe, in Africa, and
else where was originally set up to offer protection to their subjects”.
Thus
vigilantism seems to be gaining more prominence as agent of crime control in
Udenu Local Government Area. Several vigilante groups now operate in both rural
and urban areas in Nigeria. Residents see vigilante groups as an outfit they
can always rely on in terms of security. Put differently, the public is
skeptical about the ability of Nigeria Police to provide adequate security
services alone without the involvement of the public.
This study,
therefore, aimed at finding out the impact of vigilante groups on crime control
in Udenu L.G. A of Enugu state.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the rate of crime in Udenu L.G.A
?
2. To what extent does crime constitute a
social problem in Udenu L.G.A ?
3. To what extent has vigilantism helped in
controlling crime in Udenu L.G.A ?
4. To what extent have police controlled
crime in Udenu L.G.A. ?
5. What is the relationship between the
police and vigilante groups in Udenu L.G.A. ?
6. what is the community perception of
vigilante groups in Udenu L.G.A. ?
7. What is the relationship between the
police and the public in Udenu L.G.A. ?
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The broad
objective of this study is to examine the contributions of vigilante groups in
crime control in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The specific
objectives are:-
1. To highlight the rate of crime in Udenu
L.G.A.
2. To find out the extent crime constitutes
a social problem in Udenu L.G.A
3. To determine the extent vigilantism has
help in controlling crime in Udenu L.G.A
4. To find out the extent the police have
controlled crime in Udenu L.G.A
5. To find out the relationship between the
police and vigilante groups in Udenu L.G.A.
6. To determine the community perception of
vigilante groups in Udenu L.G.A.
7. To find out the relationship between the
police and the public in Udenu L.G.A.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study
has both theoretical and practical significance. From the theoretical point of
view, this study will add to the existing literature on vigilantism. It will
also build up a data upon which future research can be based or serve as a
point of reference for similar studies.
From the
practical point of view, this study will show the security gap created in both
rural and urban communities and how vigilante groups have tended to makeup for
this vacuum. To this end, this may stimulate the interest of the government in
providing adequate police services in both rural and urban communities or
modify and assist vigilante groups to complement security efforts of the
police.
In another
development, this study will be of great benefit to law enforcement agencies
and other stake holders in their quest for police reform. In general, it will
stimulate further research in vigilantism and policing.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
In the
context of this study, the following concepts have been defined as follows:
Colonialism:
This refers to the period of British rule in Nigeria. contemporary Nigeria:
This refers to present day Nigeria.
Crime: This
means any act or omission that violates the criminal law of the state which is
punishable by the state after prosecution and conviction.
Crime
control: This means all the steps and activities taken to prevent the spread
and commission of crime.
Crime
prevention: Often used interchangeably with crime control refers to all efforts
made to ensure that crime does not occur or is reduced to the barest minimum.
Criminal
Justice system: This refers to state agencies that fight against crime. They
are the police, court, prison, probation and parole services.
Police: This
refers to the branch of criminal justice system that fights against crime and
maintain law and order.
Policing:
Any effort aimed at detecting and preventing crime as well as protection of
lives and property. It can be done formally by state agents or informally by
private citizens.
Social
control: This Refers to efforts made to ensure that people’s behaviour conforms
to established norms and customs of the society.
Vigilante
groups: This refers to groups formed and funded by members of a particular
community to fight against crime and protect lives and property of individuals.
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