CRIME CONTROL: AN ANALYSIS ON VIGILANTISM AND ARMED ROBBERY IN EHIME MBANO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IMO STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.3 Background to 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 in policing their neighborhoods in order to secure them from armed robbery 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 armed robbery in Nigeria dates back to the period of both colonial era, post independence era up to this modern day era. Armed robbery was prevalent in Nigeria during colonial times primarily because of economic hardship and social injustice (Tamuno, 1970). Oloruntimehin, 1984 cited that during the colonial era, armed robberies often targeted colonial authorities and wealthy merchants. Forwarding to the post-independence, economic struggles and social unrest that characterized the era created fertile ground for crime as Armed Robbery (Ogundele, 2011). Also, the oil boom of the 1970s, shortly after the civil war led to increased wealth disparities, fueling criminal activities as armed robbery (Adeyemi, 2010). The first ever reported cases during this era were recorded across cities and urban centers like Lagos and Ibadan (The Nigerian Chronicle, 1975) which led to a later rise, surge and increase of armed robbery incidences within the period of the 1980s and 1990s due to the fact that economic decline, corruption and structural adjustment programmes exacerbated poverty and inequality ( Ikelegbe, 2005). In addition to this, the breakdown of law and order and inadequate policing enabled Armed robbery to flourish (Albert 2005), whereby notorious groups like "Three Million Gang" and " Yellow Riders" emerged ( The Guardian, 2001). Also, Shina Rambo gang were notorious in violent Armed robberies in the 1990s (Vanguard, 2011). Armed robbery in modern era (2000s till date) is vehemently sponsored by continued economic struggles, corruption and insecurity ( Lewis, 2007). Also, advances in technology enabled more sophisticated robberies (Premium Times, 2019), which gave rise to the need for increased collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community-based initiatives (Daily Trust, 2020).

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.

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 Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State where vigilantism was used as a means of both social and crime control before the advent of colonial rule. The proliferation of vigilante groups in contemporary Nigeria particularly in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo 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 While Mbano 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 such as Armed robbery in contemporary Nigeria, particularly in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

Statement of the Problem

In recent years, many communities in Nigeria have witnessed armed robbery events of various descriptions. Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State is not an exception. Thus, crime as that of armed robbery is becoming a serious problem in contemporary Nigeria. The police who are the primary agent in the fight against crime-armed robbery inclusive 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 Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. Thus, violent and property crimes as that of armed robbery are committed on daily basis with little or no detection and prosecution. Many people are being dispossessed of their valuable property and others are killed or maimed for life by armed bandits and armed robbers. Hence, this situation of insecurity and lawlessness began to affect more than just the population of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area as traders from the neighboring communities who come to Ehime Mbano to transact business in Umunumo-Mbano and Ihitte-Mbano, began to stay away from these towns out of fear. As a result, business and other social activities were paralyzed.

Thus vigilantism seems to be gaining more prominence as agent of armed robbery in Ehime Mbano 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 police in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

1.3 Research Questions

The purpose of this research is to answer questions relating to vigilantism and armed robbery in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area-the most common or frequently asked questions are:

What is the nature of vigilantism in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area?
What relationship exists between vigilantism and armed robbery in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area?
What socio-economic factors contribute to armed robbery in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area?
How effective are vigilantism groups in preventing and controlling armed robbery in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area?

1.4. Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to examine the contributions of vigilante groups in crime control in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. The specific objectives are to:-

examine the prevalence and patterns of armed robbery and how it constitutes a social problem in Ehime Mbano Local Government.
identify the socio-economic factors contributing to armed robbery and Vigilantism in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area.
determine if the formation of vigilante groups in Ehime Local Government Area is s related to people’s perception of the role of the police in armed robbery control in the area.
investigate the perception of the public on the effectiveness of vigilantism in armed robbery control and how the formation of vigilante groups in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area is related to people's perception of the role of the police in armed robbery control in the area.
evaluate the relationship between vigilantism and armed robbery and purpose strategies for improving armed robbery control in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area.
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 make up 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, armed robbery, crime control and policing.

Scope of the Study

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