Fighting Crime in Coastal Settlements in Nigeria: The Interplay of Location, Spirit Medium and Local Social Control Mechanisms

Abstract

This paper attempts to develop theoretical and empirical understanding of a range of environmental, spiritual, religious and social control factors often utilized to address the challenges of social crime in two coastal settlements in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: Ibeno and Eastern Obolo. Specific focus was on ‘armed robbery’ incidence. The study, which adopted the situational crime prevention theory by Ronald Clarke, depended on in-depth interviews, discussions, local informants and secondary literature. In the result, a broad consensus was established bordering on the relevance of the role of the local cosmology, linked with a belief in the mutual communication of territorial and marine spirits, in social crime control. Beyond the territorial and marine powers discussed, ‘communitarian spirit’ which was noted as anchored by neighborhood watch, social capital, community vigilantism, adherence to the values of individual and family integrity and other social norms and values were identified as important resources in community security. The paper argues that discourses on crime of any form in developing countries should be framed around some contextually determined factors to enhance the development of better and context-based mechanisms for practical control.

Keywords: crime control, environment, spiritual and social controls, coastal settlements, Nigeria.