https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4197-7630
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ABSTRACT
Empirical studies have shown that the use of temporary volunteers to control crime is common in sub-Saharan countries. This study examines the contentious nature of volunteers’ crime control duties along Nigeria’s borders. Using a mixed-method approach, shortcomings in the volunteer scheme’s operation were discovered such as inadequate training, non-hierarchical leadership, poor conditions of service and administrative and technical loopholes that tempted volunteers to become more involved in criminal activity than in crime control. During active service, the volunteers engaged more in economic-related misdemeanours; after being demobilised, they committed felonious offences. Exacerbating factors include the temporary nature of the volunteering, an inability to meet societal and personal demands, a high knowledge of border road networks, closeness to and affinities with known criminals, unemployment and security experience. The use of volunteers in crime control should be halted for multiple reasons, including to reduce leaks about details of security operations.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 Newham, Decade of Crime Prevention; Arisukwu and Okunola, ‘Challenges Faced’; Nigeria Police Service, Judicial Review.
2 Rowe, Introduction to Policing; UNESCO, Global Report.
3 Cook, ‘Case for Research’; Cox, ‘Light and Dark’; Inwalomhe, ‘Borno’.
4 Kayode et al., ‘Rising Rate of Unemployment’.
5 Badiora, ‘Regional Differences’.
6 Ibid.
7 Rochester et al., Volunteering and Society.
8 Ibid. See also Greenfield, ‘ Strength of Weak Ties’.
9 Dambazau, Criminology and Criminal Justice.
10 Reid, Crime and Criminology.
11 Smith, ‘Determinants of Voluntary Association’.
12 Briggs, ‘Problems of Recruitment’.
13 Okeke, Community Policing, 7, 44.
14 Ibid., 1.
15 Nwakaire, Volunteerism.
16 Dambazau, Criminology and Criminal Justice. See also Nwakaire, Volunteerism.
17 Leon-Guerrero, Social Problems.
18 Dickson, ‘Community Policing’.
19 Okolo, ‘Volunteerism’; International Crisis Group, Fighting Boko Haram in Chad.
20 Ikuteyijo and Rotimi, ‘Community Partnership in Policing’. See also Zumve, ‘Community Policing in Contemporary Nigeria’.
21 ‘Sanction Cameroon, Niger, Chad over Boko Haram’.
22 Okereafoezeke, ‘Traditional Social Control’.
23 Kayode et al., ‘Rising Rate of Unemployment’. See also Okereafoezeke, ‘Traditional Social Control’.
24 Okereafoezeke, ‘Traditional Social Control’.
25 Ibid., 24. See also Connor, ‘Violent Extremism’.
26 Cornish and Clarke, Reasoning Criminal.
27 Keel, ‘Rational Choice and Deterrence Theory’.
28 Ibid. See also Ogunbameru, Organizational Dynamics.
29 Ogunbameru, Organizational Dynamics.
30 Ogunbameru, Organizational Dynamics.
31 UNESCO, Global Report; International Crisis Group, Fighting Boko Haram in Chad; Nigeria Police Service, Judicial Review.
32 Likert, ‘Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes’.
33 Ibid.
34 Ogunbameru, Organizational Dynamics. See also Wright and Davis, ‘Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector’.
35 Briggs, ‘Problems of Recruitment’. See also Wright and Davis, ‘Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector’.
36 Wright and Davis, ‘Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector’.
37 Okeke, Community Policing. See also Wright and Davis, ‘Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector’.
38 Buelens and Van den Broeck, ‘Analysis of Differences’.
39 Ibid.
40 Williams, ‘Effects of Frustration’.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Adeleke Gbadebo Fatai
Adeleke Gbadebo Fatai is a former public servant who has held many political positions in Nigeria. He is presently lecturing in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Osun State University in Nigeria. His research interests and areas of study include political sociology, conflict management and security and gender studies.
Lawal Musediq Olufemi
Lawal Musediq Olufemi is presently lecturing in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Osun State University in Nigeria, where he is a senior lecturer who is active in both internal and external research in the areas of medical sociology and gender studies.
Ajayi Oluwagbemiga Oluwaseun
Ajayi Oluwagbemiga Oluwaseun is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Osun State University in Nigeria, majoring in development and criminology, social work and social change.
Ayantunji Isola Oyelekan
Ayantunji Isola Oyelekan is a senior lecturer in the Department of Human Resources Management at Osun State University in Nigeria, majoring in human relations, entrepreneurship and management skills.