Armed robbery in the southeastern states of contemporary Nigeria: a criminological analys

Abstract

The calls for the study of criminal actions in different societies as a consequent of the rapid socio-culture, political, and economic changes blowing over these societies is not new in criminology texts (Clifford 1965; Bennett 1980; Brown, Esbensen and Geis 1991). This study building directly on key insights about armed robbery in contemporary Nigeria: patterns, rates, modus operandi, and social organisation (characteristics), begins by noting the importance of these calls, and the need for conceptual revival in this regard. Conscientious approach directed at developing a brand of theoretical framework that approximates the criminal behaviour in question and context is one sure way of achieving this revival. This research draws 86 samples of armed robbers in three selected prisons and states of contemporary Nigeria to provide first and foremost, a fuller criminological and sociological descriptive analysis of the offence and the offenders. Analyses of data provide findings from which wide scales of meanings are possible. For instances, results suggest that offenders are more likely to be those at the economic margin of the society; those with a taste of western education–largely educated or quasi-educated as a way of life; those expressing their despise to a system they perceived to be corrupt and highly elitist. They are likely to be armed with weapons; be in groups; and have females as members of the gang/group. They are also and fundamentally, likely to tap other peculiarities of Nigerian society such as the belief in "African insurance" (charms), and pervasive corruption. Results of test show that there tends to be good degrees of causal relationships between the sources of learning about modern armed robbery and the frequency of committing the offence, planning, and the modus operandi. Within the broad context of sociological theory, and more specifically, the Tarde's imitation, Sutherland's differential association, and Iwarmie-Jaja's previous experience strands, the results of the empirical investigation are synthesised and explained. The research draws upon these conceptual threads to suggest a better and fuller model of armed robbery in contemporary armed robbery. This alternative model of explanation is described and referred to as "emulation".