NCJ Number
55790
Journal
Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 55-58
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CASE RECORDS FOR 500 HOMICIDES FOR THE PERIOD 1953-1963 WERE TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA. A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF 200 CASES FINDS MOST OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS WERE MALE AND KNEW EACH OTHER.
Abstract
IN ALL, 234 PERSONS WERE INVOLVED IN THE 200 CASES STUDIED IN DETAIL BECAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF GROUP MURDER; ONLY 4 OFFENDERS WERE WOMEN. MOST OFFENDERS WERE AGED EITHER 20 TO 29 YEARS (30.7 PERCENT) OR 30 TO 39 YEARS (28.2 PERCENT). VICTIMS WERE MALES IN 64 PERCENT OF THE CASES. WIVES, FORMER WIVES, FRIENDS, LOVERS, BROTHERS, SONS, AND DAUGHTERS ACCOUNTED FOR 33.7 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS WHILE MOST OF THE REST WERE FROM THE SAME TOWN. STRANGERS ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 8.1 PERCENT OF HOMICIDES. MACHETES AND CUTLASSES WERE THE WEAPONS MOST USED. MOTIVES WERE FINANCIAL IN 42 PERCENT OF THE CASES, MARITAL OR SEXUAL PROBLEMS IN 24. 8 PERCENT, AND A PERSONAL AFFRONT IN 37.6 PERCENT. ONLY 6 CASES (2.6 PERCENT) WERE ACCIDENTAL. MOST OF THE OFFENDERS HAD LITTLE OR NO EDUCATION AND WERE ENGAGED IN TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS. ONLY 5 HAD PROFESSIONAL LEVEL EDUCATION, 15 HAD SKILLED MODERN OCCUPATIONS, AND 9 HAD SEMISKILLED OR UNSKILLED MODERN OCCUPATIONS. CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON THE CRIME OR MURDER ARE DISCUSSED AND REFERENCES ARE MADE TO STUDIES CONDUCTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)