Effect of social cohesion on crime control strategies among rural dwellers in Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examined how social cohesion variables, SCV are associated with effective crime control strategies, CCS in Nigeria's rural areas. With mixed-methods, we collected data from 3408 participants and 12 interviewees in 48 rural areas; the results showed that strong SCV indirectly hindered an effective CCS. Significant correlation was found between SCV and CCS. The SCV are shared emotions, strong-family and religious-ties, mutual-trust, communal cohesion, well-articulated common information network, and longstanding age-group bond. The CCS adopted by the law enforcement agents were largely ineffective; these strategies are indiscriminate arrest or search with/without warrant, secret deployment of informants, liaising with local security guards and prompt documentation of cases. Other strategies include monitoring crime black-spots, collaboration among different security agencies, awareness programs and strong community-police relationship. There is a need for public awareness about the negative effects of communal bond on crime control to have a crime-free society in Nigeria.