Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
BY
MAY, 2018
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TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE
Title Page
………………………………………………………………..……………. i
Declaration
……………………………………………………………………………… ii
Certification
………………………………………………………………………………. iii
Dedication
……………………………………………………………………………….. iv
Acknowledgement
……………………………………………………………………………….. v
Chapterization
………………………………………………………………………………. Vii
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
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CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER FOUR:
4:1 African Crime Detection Methods, control and its short Comings.
4:2 European Crime Detection Methods, control and its short Comings.
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BACKGROUND TO STUDY
Crime is an offense against the society that is often prosecuted and punishable by the law.1
Crime is an integral part of human society; every society aspires to bring crime under control
as a result so many methods have been devised by both traditional and modern societies to
checkmate crime. There is no doubt that security has always remained one of the major
pillars on which the development of any human society is built. In fact, it is doubtful if any
society has prospered in the absence of security. This is because it is only under a secured
atmosphere that all machinery of development can perform effectively and bring about the
desired goals.2 Prior to the advent of colonialism, indigenous people of sub-Saharan Africa
had their system of criminology for the detection, prevention and control of crimes. With the
system being a creation of the people for themselves, the level of acceptance and reverence
for it was relatively high. Moreover, in the prevention, detection and other aspects of crime
processes and objects of fetishism, charms, magic and some other measures. The supernatural
dimension facilitated a socio-legal atmosphere in which the potent elements of mysticism and
debilitating fear of terrifying deities helped to keep crimes at relatively manageable levels.
These crime detection and control maintenance no doubt played a great role in the unity and
progress of the people especially in pre-colonial times.3 But the coming of the Europeans has
altered/changed the peoples cognitive mapping of what constitutes crime control through the
introduction of new methods leading to the abandonment of the traditional crime control
patterns, systems and mechanisms that was instant, efficient and effective. This relegation of
traditional crime control mechanisms in favour of modern crime control mechanisms has
done more harm than good in Nigeria especially among the Yoruba people. For instance,
Transparency International ranked Nigeria as “one of the most corrupt nations in the world”.4
In Nigeria, there have been cases of ritual killings: The discovery of ritual killing dens at
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several areas of Lagos state and also at Soka area at Ibadan, Oyo State are examples of such
killings. There have been a high prevalence of deviance in Nigeria and Yoruba land is not left
out.
This is evident in the increasing rates and incidences of crimes in and more specifically in
Yoruba land. These crimes in Yoruba land have led to increasing concerns among indigenes
which often lead to jungle justice. In the years past and in recent times, there has been armed
robbery and kidnapped suspects in Yoruba land which were hurriedly arrested and publicly
tried, found guilty and burnt to death by the vigilante groups (an informal modern crime
control mechanism) made up of the youths. The problems of crime and deviance have
become a household discussion among the people of Yoruba land. Thus, various scholars
have tried understanding the cause of these acts perpetuated by both young and old members
of the society. Yoruba land like other tribes in the country have since the nineties have
experienced increased wave of crime.5 Ranging from business men and women being
attacked while travelling, people in the process usually get raped and killed, many others
kidnapped and ransom demanded. There have been recorded cases of serial rapists and
homosexuals who allegedly rape children of different parents in different parts of the society.
Rape is one of the most pervasive forms of violence against women and on rare occasion
males. It is a crime in which assailants’ uses sex to inflict humiliation on the victim or exert
power and control over the victim.6 Rape is as a result of male bonding and socialized ideas
of machismo.7 Ritual killings are now the order of the day. A professor at the Africana
studies and research center at Cornell University opined that ritual murder is a situation
where people are killed in order to take their body parts for working magic for personal
interests.8 In Yoruba land, there have been cases of individual killings and their body parts
missing. Also, it has been said that individuals engage in these ritual practices due to skewed
emphasis on wealth acquisition in recent societies especially in states like Ogun, and Oyo.
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Also there have been reported cases of kidnapping and armed robbery attacks on banks like
in other parts of Nigeria and not only in Yoruba land (Southwest of Nigeria). Kidnapping
applies to all situations where persons are forcibly seized and transported to a destination,
where they are held against their will in an unlawful confinement.9 Kidnapping may be done
for ransom or in furtherance of another crime.10 Apart from social and economic undertone of
kidnapping, it may also have a political reason where political rivals tries to undo each other
and in rare cases kidnapping may lead to death/assassination especially when the kidnapper
discovers that his victim has recognized his/her identity. Both genders are kidnapped in and
the potential for one to be kidnapped is when one has a kidnapping value in terms of social
status or wealth. Kidnapping is fast becoming a lucrative alternative to armed robbery.11 Also
there has been armed robbery cases; where armed robbers raid banks in broad daylight,
private homes and businesses. Juvenile delinquency is also a major characteristic in Yoruba
land. These terms is used to embrace a broad range of behaviors, from that found offensive to
respectable values and occasionally serious crimes. Delinquency adversely affects the
economic and social development, strengthens social exclusion and poverty, undermines
security and reduces governance.12 These various juvenile delinquencies include drug related
The nature of the present day modern crime control mechanisms has allowed for weak
values and norms that guided the society. The traditional crime control mechanisms had a
strong justice system which allowed for immediate sanction to offenders. Thus, it has become
a problem to effectively define the extent to which modernization has greatly affected the
traditional crime control mechanism and their functions. It is worthy to note that, the
socialization, weak social ties and cohesion in the family; Hence, leading to poor orientation
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and inculcation of norms and values of the society in children and youths by relevant
stakeholders.
The advent of colonialism disrupted the indigenous system, vis-à-vis its supernatural leaning,
as it was criticized as barbaric, unscientific and outdated, among others, thereby, casting
stigma on them to the detriment of African knowledge system. According to Zacharys Auger
elsewhere promoted the idea that “civilization” in the colonies could only come from
outside… as a result of this, all African knowledge systems were attacked, denigrated,
ridiculed, and systematically undermined. This was achieved through structured stigma,
supported and reinforced the stigma leading in some instances to wholesome substitution of
cultural practices and world view. He also noted that “in all colonies, Christianity was
introduced and projected as the only way, other indigenous religious ritual became fetish
while religious object of worship were misrepresented as idols, masters, initiates and
custodians of ancient wisdom were denounced as pagans in need of salvation.” Elders and
initiates lost their privileged positions in the society and were passed over as ignoramuses on
account of not having gone to school.13 The colonial encounter is responsible for the loss of
many aspect of African knowledge system. It is also responsible for the suppression of
Again, the Christian and Islamic religion took captive the minds of the people of Southwest,
Nigeria and Africa in general; thus, weakening the structure and hold of African traditional
religion on the society. Also one of the problems traditional crime control mechanisms have
green pastures; thus, weakening the effects and functions of this traditional crime control
mechanisms and the system.14 It could then be hypothesized or assumed that, it is the
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weakness of these crime control mechanisms and its ineffectiveness that has led to an upsurge
in pervasive insecurity such as kidnapping, organized assassinations and armed robbery, rape
The impact of such crimes is that today people now focus their eyes toward crime
investigation agencies and security agencies to check, detect and control crimes. Currently,
physical investigation by agencies has the probability to ignore and neglect the supportive
crime features. Most of these agencies search manually the database of criminals, which is a
tedious process and takes much more time. Few of them work with the help of computer data
analysts that are responsible for crime detection, criminal identification and prediction, and
crime verification to ensure safety to the citizens. Crime experts often use their knowledge
skills, intuition and past experiences when they deal with criminals and associated crime
cases. Criminals may then be executed and prosecuted by the law and justice of the land
through litigation. This may currently take long time, may be years, depending on the
The new legal system imposed by the colonial masters known as litigation. Litigation
presupposes instituting actions in court to enforce a particular right. It could also mean any
lawsuit or other resort to the courts to determine a legal question or matter. Litigation since
then has become the widely preferred and acceptable form of justice system over the
traditional system of justice. The former became more advantageous to the latter for it is
written and ascertainable. Over the years, there have been various researches employed
through different means towards improving the legal system by updating laws considered
out-dated, building of more courts, appointment of more judicial officers, modernization and
simplifying of civil processes to make them more responsive to the development of the
societies. All these are done in order to bring about a quick, fair and just society.16
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Upon all the efforts being put in place to improve the judicial system, many have
perceived the system to be that which is time consuming, frustrating, extremely stressful, and
overly expensive and in most cases not providing the desired results. This has made many
lose confidence in the judicial system for the above stated of inadequacies of the legal
system; ranging from insufficient number of judicial officers, to not having sufficient court
rooms, improperly trained lawyers, corruption in the judiciary and entire judicial system, and
continued increase number of cases pending in courts for decades resulting in delay in the
administration of justice, and its often said that justice delayed is justice denied.17
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Crimes which are of various types and degrees can be detected and controlled through several
means either by the traditional or western method of crime detection and controlled, even
though the former has taken prominence and preference over the latter owing to
colonialization. It is against this backdrop that, this paper examines both methods in Yoruba
land through a comparative analysis of their roles, functions and effectiveness, weighing their
pros and cons and also suggestions on integration/coexistence of traditional and western
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
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This research work seeks to carry out a comparative analysis of traditional and western
method of crime detection and control in Yoruba land from 1900 to 2000. Particularly, this
research will:
1. Carry out a comparative analysis of traditional and western method of crime detection
2. Assess their competency, roles, functions and effectiveness of traditional and western
method of crime detection and control in Yoruba land from 1900 to 2000.
3. Evaluate the practice of traditional and western method of crime detection and control
4. Preview the achievements of traditional and western method of crime detection and
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The significance of this research work is to carry out a comparative analysis of traditional and
western method of crime detection and control in Yoruba land from 1900 to 2000, and to
mechanisms in modern societies in Nigeria especially Yoruba land. The study will enable one
know and understand the traditional and western mechanisms employed in detecting and
controlling of different crimes through the ages. It would help broaden the knowledge of
scholars and also anyone seeking to know more about the traditional and western
research have been conducted on this research topic, notwithstanding this study promise to be
an intellectual contribution to this area of study. This study will be of great value to policy
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makers in formulating and implementing appropriate policies. The study will also be of
SCOPE OF STUDY
The study focuses on a comparative analysis of traditional and western methods employed in
detecting and controlling of different crimes Nigeria, using Yoruba land(Southwest) as a case
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This research work will employ fundamental historical methodology of both primary and
secondary sources. Primary sources such as oral interview used in reconstructing the origin
of the Yoruba people of Southwest of Nigeria. In addition, secondary sources will also be
used. This refers to data collected during the research from published sources. They include
data which had already been refined, classified and analysed, for example, textbooks,
journals, periodicals and online materials. The literature review that will be contained in this
study will solely be based on the data obtained from the use of this method of data collection.
LIMITATION TO STUDY
Here, this means what can make the researcher’s work slow or in other case affect the
research study negatively. It is not an overstatement that a work of this nature cannot be
carried out without some hard experience, however below are constrains to this work.
There are many limitations ranging from not knowing where to start, not sure who to consult
or approach for materials not knowing what next to write in various segment of this study and
not actually knowing who to put the researcher through in achieving the work, financial
constraint in sourcing for necessary information, duration for the research work which is
environments.
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Due to high level illiteracy the purpose of the study will have to be explained several times in
order to get the desired response from the respondents, there might also be a general
reluctance by the respondents in granting audience because many will be sceptical about the
researcher’s genuine intent, because some s the researcher as a spy of the government or
In addition, due to the scope of the research, the research might have challenges include
LITERATURE REVIEW
This section presents the conceptual discourse, the review of related literature, and the
theoretical framework for the study. The conceptual discourse will consist of four sub-
Crime
Crime detection
Crime control
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REFERENCE
2. B. Abegunde, Corruption the enemy within: legal and institutional panacea. Ibadan
3. B. Odunsi, Crime Detection and the Psychic Witness in America: An Allegory for Re-
appraising Indigenous African Criminology. In: Onazi O. (eds) African Legal Theory
4. B. Ajayi, Poor Governance and Corruption Begets Anarchy and Lawlessness. 2012
5. O. Elechi, Extra Judicial Killings in Nigeria: The case study of Afikpo Town.
International conferences of the inter-nation society for the reform of criminal law.
Day. 1996
8. Refugee Review Tribunal. RRT Research Response Number NGA 348.30, Nigeria.
2009
http://www.edoworld.net/unsolved/mysteries.html.
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11. J.D. Inyang, & E.A. Ubonyi. The Social Problem of Kidnapping and Its Implications
12. R. T. Schaefer. Sociology: A Brief Introduction. New York: McGraw hill Inc. 2002.
13. Z.A. Guudu “colonial Africa and the Disruption of African Knowledge System” in
Joseph Mangut and Terheruba Wuamed, Colonialism and the Transition to Modernity
in Africa. 2012
14. Ukpong Offiong, Christianity and Akwa Ibom Traditional Belief Systems. Lagos:
15. A.T. Ajayi, & L.O. Buhari. Methods of conflict resolution in African traditional
16. L.H. Gummi. ADR and the Multi-door Courthouse Initiative, the Nigerian
Experience: Compendium of Speeches. Letters and Papers delivered at the 1st NCMG
17. O. James. The growth, future and promise of ADR in Africa, The Ugandan
Experience: Compendium of Speeches. Letters and Papers delivered at the 1st NCMG
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