NCJ Number
64085
Journal
Victimology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 236-246
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF PROPERTY CRIME IN NIGERIA SHOWS FREQUENT CRIME IN AN AFFLUENT AREA JUXTAPOSED TO A POOR ONE AND STRONGLY SHOWS THE NEED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
Abstract
AN INVESTIGATION IS MADE INTO THE PROBLEM OF CRIMINAL PROPERTY VICTIMIZATION IN NIGERIA USING THE FINDINGS OF A SMALL-SCALE VICTIM SURVEY IN ZARIA. AFTER EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR BUT THE LACK OF RELIABLE DATA ON CRIME, THE ARTICLE EXAMINES CRIMINALS AND THEIR VICTIMS AND OBSTACLES TO COLLECTING SUCH DATA. IN THE MEANTIME, SMALL-SCALE, AREA-SPECIFIC, TIME-SPECIFIC, AND OFFENSE-SPECIFIC VICTIM SURVEYS, MUST BE CONSIDERED VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE RISK OF VICTIMIZATION, THE KIND AND DEGREE OF POLICE RESPONSIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS, AND THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON THOSE VICTIMIZED. THE NIGERIAN STUDY INVOLVED A SMALL, AFFLUENT UNIVERSITY AREA JUXTAPOSED WITH AN AREA WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE POOR BUT EXPOSED TO THE AFFLUENCE. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 484 SENIOR STAFF AND THEIR SPOUSES FROM AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON LOCATION AND SIZE OF RESIDENCE, SECURITY MEASURES, ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AND BURGLARY VICTIMIZATION, ACTIONS TAKEN AFTER EXPERIENCING VICTIMIZATION AND POLICE RESPONSE WHERE REPORTS WERE MADE, AND THE AFTER EFFECTS OF VICTIMIZATION ON THE VICTIM. FINDINGS SHOW THAT 33 PERCENT OF INTERVIEWEES EXPERIENCED ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AND 21.4 PERCENT, SUCCESSFUL BURGLARY DURING THE STUDY. MOST OF THESE BURGLARIES OCCURRED AT NIGHT AND RESULTED IN VICTIM'S LOSS OF PROPERTY, INCURRED EXPOSURES IN BUTTRESSING SECURITY AND MISSING WORK, PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS CAUSED BY FEAR OF FURTHER CRIME. BURGLARIES TENDED TO HIT THOSE HOUSES LOCATED NEAR THE BUSH MOST OFTEN. THE INFORMATION GATHERED LED TO THESE CONCLUSIONS: PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO LIVE AT THE END OF THE ROW NEAR THE BUSH OR IN GROUND-FLOOR FLATS; SECURITY AND PATROL SHOULD INCREASE; STREETS SHOULD BE LIT; AND RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR VALUABLE PROPERTY. ISOLATION OF HOUSING AND OBVIOUS AFFLUENCE APPEAR TO LEAD TO VICTIMIZATON. A COMPARISON IS MADE WITH UNITED STATES STUDIES WHICH SHOW THAT THE POOR MAY ALSO VICTIMIZE THE POOR, AND THAT CLUSTER HOUSING, OVERCROWDING, AND THE INABILITY TO AFFORD SECURITY DEVICES MAY ALSO LEAD TO VICTIMIZATION. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)