AN EXAMINATION OF THE MENACE OF VIOLENT CRIMES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.2 Background Of The Study

Little was known about the violent crimes that existed at Nigerian tertiary institutions throughout the years of Nigerian political independence. Even in broad society, the frequency of violent criminal activity is quite low. Universities, in particular, are true "citadels of learning." Those who couldn't afford to go to these colleges envy the students. Graduates were well-regarded in society, and many leaped at the opportunity to land decent employment. They were considered as the pinnacle of knowledge and integrity, in part because they had been educated in the way of a "white man," and in part because they had been trained in a less violent environment; they lacked criminal inclinations. (Adeyemi, 2009).

Today's scenario at higher institutions is very different from what it was three or four decades ago. Undergraduates at higher education institutions are physically or ostensibly besieging their campuses with a slew of indiscipline. Their enraged rebellious yells, loud protests, and occasionally destructive deeds offer clear evidence to the rising sense of despair and hopelessness..

Violent crimes germinate and thrive in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. According to Agbola, Olatubara, and Alabi (2001), universities and polytechnic campuses in most parts of the country are now a battleground for all types of violent crimes.Such violent criminal acts include robbery, murder, violent rape, stealing, burglary, assault, violent demonstration, assassination, car snatching at gunpoint and the dreaded activities of the cultists Agbola et al further observed that most of the violent crimes in our tertiary institutions are basically the handiwork of student cultists.

According to Alemika and Chukwuma (2000), homicide, rape, office, house, and store-breaking acts have reached worrisome proportions at academic institutions. He went on to say that these violent criminal activities have a negative impact on both the academic and social growth of the University communities as well as the wider community. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this study is to investigate the nature and pattern of violent crimes in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with a focus on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, in order to identify the causes and social implications for the institution in particular, and for Nigerian society in general..

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

According to Aluede (2005), teachers from various faculties are slain even in their homes by an unknown individual (s). He went on to say that there have been numerous recorded incidents of robbery, rape, duping, automobile and mobile phone snatching on campus at major Nigerian institutions. Even at the time of this study, the university had observed a slew of crimes such as mobile phone snatching, robbery with masks, illegal possession of firearms, office breaking and theft, rape, and so on. This threat is still present. Adisa, (2004), in his own work titled "Varsity students injured as robbers raid female hostel", posits that female students of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH) were injured, and some of them seriously injured, when a gang of armed robbers attacked the female hostel of the institution. Some of the girls were raped and others were assaulted physically. Some were fractured in their limbs as the robbers invaded the hostel shooting indiscriminately. However, money and property belonging to these girls were carted away while expanded cartridges by the robbers were found. He further explained that Some of the robbers were later discovered to be students at the same institution. According to Adeyemi et al. (2009), the rate of violent demonstrations in tertiary campuses is on the rise. Adeyemi also noticed that property worth millions of Naira has been destroyed over the years in his work, titled "Violent Demonstrations at Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria." He did, however, mention the violent demonstrations at the University of Lagos in April 1998, as well as the Kogi State Polytechnic in June 2002, where students went on a violent rampage, torching school facilities, including the library. He went on to say that the majority of the kids participating in the violent activities were cults. He also noted that cult members are often highly aggressive and engage in a variety of violent criminal actions both on and off campus.

As a result, it appears that Nigeria's higher institutions are plagued with insecurity. Regrettably, this scenario has had a negative impact on the social and academic life of both faculty and students on campus. As a result, there is a need to study violent crimes at Nigerian tertiary institutions in order to discover potential remedies.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

Generally, this study is aimed at analyzing students and lecturers' perceptions of violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Specifically, the study has the following objectives.

1. To ascertain the nature of violent crimes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

2. To identify the reasons for the apparent increase in violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

3. Identify the effect of violent crime on tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Question

For the purposes of this study, the following questions were developed:

1. What is the nature of violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria?

2. What are the reasons for the apparent increase in violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria?

3. What are the consequences of violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria?

1.5 Significance Of The Study

This study will be of use to the Nigerian government and relevant authorities in the tertiary institutions of Nigeria. By obtaining more information on the nature, patterns, and causes of violent crimes in tertiary institutions, the authorities will be in a better position to address the problems of violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Similarly, the information will assist the government in developing effective crime control measures for Nigerian tertiary institutions.For staff and students who are potential victims of violent crimes in tertiary institutions, studying will be of immense help. Additionally, this study will serve as a source of information for researchers, students and other academics.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is delimited to identifying the nature of violent crimes in Tertiary Institution’s in Nigeria, the reasons for the apparent increase in violent crimes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the effect of violent crime on tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Thus, respondents for this study will be obtained from Federal University Awka, Anambra State.

1.7. Limitation Of The Study

The limitations of this study includes:

Finance: Due to the economic difficulties that people, including the researchers, are experiencing, the prospect of a greater sample size, which would have enabled the study to reach a larger region, has become impossible. Thus, this work will be limited to only manufacturing companies/industries in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. 

Time: It was not surprising that the researcher was limited by the time frame as it posed a direct challenge to the effective coverage intended in the course of this report. It is the intention of the researcher to interview all the employees of the selected manufacturing companies, but because of the numerous activities of the researcher, which border on both academics, work schedules and other social activities, it has become relatively impossible to explain the intention.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Students’ Crises: This is defined in this paper as the rampage made by students in pressing for their demands on certain issues with authorities of the various tertiary institutions of learning.

Violent Crime: A violent crime, violent felony, crime of violence or crime of a violent nature is a crime in which an offender or perpetrator uses or threatens to use force upon a victim.

Tertiary Institution: This is a university or other tertiary education provider recognized by the Employer which offers Degrees, Diplomas or teacher education courses.