Armed Robbery Research Articles

Maritime Security under the Lens: Evaluating its effectiveness in Deterring Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea

Piracy is a significant threat in maritime zones, severely disrupting navigation and exerting a detrimental impact on global trade and commerce. This research critical examines the effectiveness of current maritime security measures, arrangements, and regulatory frameworks specifically designed to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by exploring a range of strategies employed by both individual nations and international bodies, to counter the persistent maritime threat of armed robbery. Current research identifies key gaps and limitations within these existing measures of maritime securities, offering valuable insights into their practical efficacy and highlighting areas where improvements are necessary. The study evaluates the capacity of the existing frameworks by utilizing qualitative research methodology to theoretically address and prescribe effective mitigation strategies to deter piracy and armed robbery in today’s complex maritime environments, thereby contributing to the ongoing discourse on strengthening and enhancing global maritime security.

Nuancing Maritime Security Governance in The Straits of Malacca: A Comparative Analysis on Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore are littoral states of the Straits of Malacca (SOM), the world’s busiest waterway connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, with around 80,000 ships passing through this route annually. While maritime security governance of this waterway is a serious concern especially to those states, their responses to it has differed particularly in regard to three security mechanisms: the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP), and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The states’ approaches can be viewed primarily through the lens of sovereign interests, economic interests, and legal obligations. In addition, the role of institutions appears as an intervening factor influencing their responses. This article first analyses maritime security governance and examines why it has garnered much attention in contemporary international relations. Second, it assesses the importance of the SOM as a strategic location, a critical trading route since ancient times, as well as the value it holds for international shipping. Third, it examines the littoral states’ responses to maritime security governance, focusing on the factors influencing them. The article finds that their responses to external power security initiatives differ compared to the indigenous security mechanism in the SOM. Despite that, the underlying theme among the three states is to uphold their obligations as coastal states as provided under UNCLOS and in cooperating with each other and international users, though several caveats do seem to also apply.

Assessment of global shipping risk caused by maritime piracy

Due to the frequent occurrence of piracy incidents, normal trade, and transportation activities have been hindered. This paper uses the Piracy and Armed Robbery dataset in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System to analyze the types and evolutionary characteristics of shipping risk caused by piracy and the piracy behavior patterns in different seas. This study found that there are three regions with high incidence of piracy in the world, and their gathering centers change dynamically over time. Piracy incidents can be divided into four categories based on the quantitative assessment of shipping risk caused by piracy. Shipping risk caused by piracy shows different evolution characteristics in different seas, affected by factors such as the evolution of national political situations and anti-piracy measures. Based on the qualitative assessment of the shipping risk caused by piracy, the piracy corpus reflects the diverse patterns of piracy in different seas. In the process of pirate attacks, the diversity is mainly manifested in violence and selectivity. In the consequences of pirate attacks, the targets that pirates pay attention to vary significantly in different seas. This research will help to strengthen the dynamic monitoring of shipping risk caused by piracy, and further contribute to the research on maritime transport safety.

Spatial patterns and characteristics of global piracy analyzed using a geographic information system

Pirate attacks are among the most important factors affecting maritime safety in recent years. In this study, big data were analyzed to extract the patterns and characteristics of piracy incidents and to reveal risk control options and recommendations for anti-piracy measures. Global and regional spatial patterns and characteristics were identified with the support of a geographic information system. In total, 3675 maritime piracy incidents from 2010 to 2022 were collected from the Piracy and Armed Robbery module of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System to profile the characteristics of global piracy. To visualize and analyze the features of maritime piracy, we used three geospatial techniques: kernel density estimation (KDE), k-means clustering, and buffer analysis. These geospatial techniques were used to create a KDE map for identifying piracy-prone areas. We subdivided the incidents into several classes and analyzed the features within each class to calculate the incidents that occurred in coastal areas. The following results were obtained from the geospatial analysis. First, the results of the KDE method revealed specific regions that were particularly prone to piracy, namely the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa; the seas around East Africa and the Arabian Sea; the Malacca Strait and parts of Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal; and the seas around South America. Second, the distributions of maritime piracy incidents by different temporal criteria, location, and ship type were compared within different classes. In particular, we found that 79.97% of minor incidents, 43.4% of less serious incidents, 50% of serious incidents, and 30.9% of very serious incidents occurred within 40 km of the coastline. The results obtained from the study contributed to an understanding of the spatial patterns of maritime piracy and provided information useful to maritime safety organizations for enhancing shipping safety.

GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF INSECURITY AND ITS THREAT ON ROAD TRANSPORTATION IN KADUNA STATE NIGERIA

The escalating waves of criminal activities involving motorists and other road users on highways is alarming, consequently resulting in many travellers losing lives and properties. This paper is aimed at analyzing the spatial distribution of criminal activities and its threat on road transportation across the state. The study utilized both primary and secondary data sources namely: structured questionnaire (likert scale), FGD and printed material such as journals and records from security agency. The ArcGIS software was used to determine the spatial pattern of the criminal activities in the study area. The questionnaire was analyzed using Microsoft Excel Package and the results were presented in charts. The results indicated that the state is bedeviled with four major types of insecurities which are arm robbery, Kidnapping, Ethnic violence and religious violence of which armed robbery predominate with 32%. The results also indicated that more than 61% of the LGAs in state had faced at least one attacked for the period 2017 to 2021. The areas bothering thick forests such as Birnin Gwari, Chikun and Giwa Local Government Areas were heavily hit by criminal activities. It was recommended that security apparatus should be placed more on the problematic areas for proactive majors to minimize the incidences of the attacks.

Kidnapping in Communities Adjoining Conserved Areas: The Case of Pandam Wildlife Park and Namu (Jepjan)

The insecurity arising from kidnapping in communities adjoining forest reserves necessitated this study. Namu community, which has become a local business hub, has suffered from arm robbery and kidnapping in recent years. Information acquired includes conditions making the target suitable for kidnapping, like occupation, timing for kidnapping, 
 mode of transportation and torture, major reasons for kidnapping and financial status making victims have high kidnap ransom value. The snowball sampling technique was used, and it linked victims affected since the community is clustered. To get the needed information, twenty-five victims of kidnapping and hunters were administered a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics like the frequency and percentages were used, while the correlation coefficient was used for inference. Results indicated that businessmen (64%) are mostly targeted. The most exploited time for kidnapping is from 7pm - 9pm (72%), and victims are mostly held hostage for about 1-3 days (68%). The most used mode of transportation is foot/motorcycle (88%), and beating was the dominant mode of torture (76%). Respondents indicated that unemployment (44%) is the major reason for kidnapping. It was realized that financial consideration is major in making one a target, and kidnap ransom value determines the amount demanded and ransom paid. Therefore, the correlation coefficient established that positive relationship with a significant level (p-value=0.013) at 0.05 alpha level. Recommendations made include hybridization of security forces; use of geospatial techniques; improved tracking devices and database creation for citizens; entrepreneurial skills in education curriculum; awareness by non-governmental organizations; and responsible children upbringing with high moral values for a secured society.

Integrating Peace Education into Senior Secondary School Science and Technological Curriculum for Sustainable National Unity and Development

The paper presents an overview of peace education and the need for its integration into the senior secondary science and technology curriculum for sustainable national unity and development. It argues that many changes in the society coupled with the increasing scientific and technological innovations have brought a lot of unimaginable challenges such as intergroup tensions, civil unrest, ethnic agitations, insecurity, cultism, kidnapping, arm robbery, cybercrimes, banditry, child trafficking etc. all of which have greatly threatened the corporate existence of our nation Nigeria. The paper therefore posits that integration of Peace Education into the secondary school science and technology curriculum could help senior secondary school students gain effective and relevant skills required the resolution of non-violent conflicts. These skills are also expected to be reinforced to facilitate the growth and development of peaceful values in the society.

Percepction of Piracy and Armed Robbery in Bahía del Callao – Perú

Percepction of Piracy and Armed Robbery in Bahía del Callao – Perú

Political Robbery and Armed Robbery in Nigeria: A Comparative Approach

The incidences of armed robbery in Nigeria have attained gross sinister dimension following the introduction of more sophisticated weapons. Armed robbery is a serious criminal offence which deserves grave sanctions, and so is political robbery. In fact, political robbery deserves more sanction because it is far worse than armed robbery and could be proven to be precursor to armed robbery and other social vices. Handlers of the Political sphere are laden with the responsibility of proper management of the nation’s common patrimony. However, this particular function as observed in some cases, has been grossly bastardized as it has become a medium of parochial but stupendous financial aggrandizement for self and family enhancement to the detriment of the general populace. This paper brings to the fore how political robbery (corruption) engenders social vices like armed robbery, kidnapping, etc. as its cases crawls without a conclusive end. The paper quizzes the similarities and differences between political robbery and armed robbery – which are basically two sides of a coin, but are accorded disproportionate sanctions. While political robbers usually get a slap-on-the-wrist sentence or a back pocket fine, armed robbers are daily railroaded to prisons.

Black Gold, Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea: Daunting Task for the Navy Along the Coast of Ghana

The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) is now a hotspot for maritime piracy and armed robbery. The interest in this region is bothered on the Modus Operandi of the pirates in these waters. The attacks are well planned and executed, and though sometimes vicious, their focus is mainly on getting their hands on the ship’s cargo mostly oil. The term ‘Petro Piracy’ has evolved because of this practice. Additionally, Pirate Action Group (PAG) attack and Kidnapping For Ransom (KFR) frequently occur in these areas. The maritime situation does not end with piracy and armed robbery alone but other acts such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, trafficking of illegal drugs, people and firearms. Keeping these sea lanes remains a daunting task for navies and coast guards in this region who have logistical challenges and technical support to effectively engage head-on with these pirates. With the recent oil finds in the Gulf of Guinea and the coast of Ghana in particular, the situation has become even more precarious as pirates in this region become better equipped and emboldened. Ghana has her oil offshore and is drilled using the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) system. The Offloading part makes the FPSO very vulnerable to attacks by armed robbers. This paper considers the challenges faced in maritime security along this sea corridor and the efforts by the Ghana Navy, Regional and Foreign Navies in their joint coordinated strategies to curb this overarching threat.

Rape as a Rising Traumatic Norm in Nigeria Society: Need for Value Re –Orientation towards Nation Building

There is increase in crime in the Nigerian society today. There is no passing day that incidence of homicide, bandit, arm robbery and rape to mention some are not repeated in various news media. The Nigerian police recorded 717 rape cases between January and May, 2020 (mutual, June 15, 2020). Rape cases have risen to unprecedented height and this Negative trend cannot be tolerated any further in our society, where peace and tranquility is much desired. Without a peaceful and tranquil environment, development of the economy may be truncated. The members of society have been impacted with this stressor called rape. And consequently a number of persons has suffered psychological problems. This condition if not arrested can negatively affect an individual’s economic power, work adjustment and livelihood the researchers perceive the problem of rape are complicated because studies have revealed that it is largely undisclosed by most survivals, under reported by news media and understudied by Researchers. Therefore if no intervention is instituted by way of national value, reorientation of citizens through the educational sector, rape may continue to thrive as a traumatic norm in the Nigeria society, this paper discus bothered on rape as a traumatic norm, disclosure by victim news media and educational intervention through value reorientation. Necessary suggestion are made on how to end this menace in Nigeria.

The Anti-Maritime Piracy Law in India and Malaysia: An Analytical Study

ABSTRACT Sea piracy is one of the greatest threats to trade and commerce on high seas. According to the annual report 2020 of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), a total of 97 incidents (comprising 95 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in 2020. The number of incidents was just double the last year's 2019 sea piracy cases. The incident of piratical attacks affected Asian Countries and particularly Southern Asia and Southeast Asia is the most affected area. Southeast Asia covered 41 percent of total pirate attacks during 1995-2013. Although India and Malaysia are geographically differently located both are mostly affected by these incidents of sea piracy and it has a long-standing history to fight against piracy. India has proposed the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 to curb this menace in tune with the United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS), 1982, and Malaysia has the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Act, 2004. The present study analyses the concept of piracy in Asian countries and its international and national legal framework to deal with piratical attacks. It is found that Southern Asia and particularly Southeast Asia is one of the most affected areas in piratical attacks. Further, there is no specific legislation to deal with piracy in India and Malaysia. Therefore, India and Malaysia should have strong domestic legislations for the apprehension and prosecution of pirates.

The Ripple Effects of Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery in the Gulf of Guinea

The acts of piracy had bedeviled mankind for many centuries though the modus operandi of this sinister act keeps changing over the years. The core concept still remains the same. It usually involves an armed attack at sea for a vessel, its cargo, crew or all of the three. The stage is set at sea, but the fall out effects are far reaching than we can imagine. There are political, economic social, security and environmental implications. All these aggregates or determinants are intertwined and have adverse consequences on all the stakeholders. Failed states political instability has become fertile grounds for pirates or sea armed robbers. Economically, the disruption of free movement of vessels, capture of crew for ransom has adversely affected the prices of goods at its final destination. This paper seeks to examine the relationships and effects these attacks have on the various facets of the marine logistic chain. The socio-economic model of Dr Kenneth McLeroy is used to explain the various linkages existing between these determinants viz economic perspective, social perspective, environmental perspective and political instability. Finally, the relevance of maritime security in the sphere of governance and the ability of institutions which would use the safety of our oceans is examined.

Revealing Indonesia's Reluctance to Participate in the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)

The Vision of President Jokowi to create Indonesia as a world maritime axis meets a variety of challenges. Piracy and armed robbery are the real threat faced by each state, in particular, Indonesia as a maritime (archipelagic) state. The escalation more is realized in real life. For facing the challenges, states in Asia create The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). Unfortunately, Indonesia is not joining the regional cooperation that makes this phenomenon is very interesting to investigate. Therefore, this article argues that Indonesia's foreign policy did not ratify ReCAAP's regional cooperation was identified from various factors including systemic sources, societal sources, governmental sources & idiosyncratic sources. This article uses a qualitative research method with a case study approach. Data collection techniques in this article use a literature study where is sourced from several kinds of literature. This article concludes that the four factors above that influenced Indonesian policy did not ratify the ReCAAP regional cooperation.

해적피해예방법의 문제점과 개선방안에 관한 연구

The act on the prevention of damage from piracy has been legislated to ensure safety and prevent damage to ships and crews on international voyages from piracy. However, there is no improvement in related problems after the law was enacted, so it is necessary to supplement them. The purpose of this study is to point out the problems of the act on the prevention of damage from piracy and to present an effective improvement plan. In order to identify problems with the act on the prevention of damage from piracy, the Status of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships was investigated, and the main contents of the act were reviewed. As a result of the study, the definition of risk area and potential risk area for piracy and the need for improvement in the provisions related to passage reporting and citadel were confirmed, and a revised plan was suggested. Since the act on the prevention of damage from piracy is related to the lives of our crew, continuous legal review is required to respond to the increasing number of piracy.

Selecting optimal site for solar photovoltaic plant in Ikwerre L.G.A., Rivers State, Nigeria

Erratic power supply is a serious problem to most part of Rivers State, Nigeria in general and Ikwerre Local Government Area in particular. This situation does not only halt social and economic development of the area but has also given birth to other social vices such as arm robbery, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. Renewable energy is an alternative form of energy aim at alleviating the problems of erratic power supply. It is generally considered as the cleanest form of energy. Solar photovoltaic is a type of renewable energy which derived its energy from the sun. The construction of solar plant requires the selection of suitable location for the generation of optimal energy. The purpose of the study is to determine suitable locations in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State to site solar photovoltaic plant using multi-criteria analysis (MCA) in ESRI’s ArcGIS. The dataset used for the determination of the optimal sites include; solar radiation and slope map produced from digital terrain model (DTM), pipeline, road network, land use/ cover map, soil map, and settlement. The datasets were converted to raster and reclassed into six classes for the purpose of data integration. The datasets were weighted according to their relative importance in the weighted overlay tool. Solar radiation has the highest percentage influence 40, followed by proximity to pipeline and road network which are 15 each. The model produced four suitability classes ranging from poorly suitable to highly suitable class. Highly suitable class has an area of 10139.87ha with 548 polygons, representing 15.78% of the study area. Further analysis was carried out using highly suitable class and settlement layer, it was found that three (3) optimal sites were obtained as most suitable for sitting solar plant. The three polygons were located in the region with very high solar radiation, accessible to road and away from built-up areas. The above results suggest the usefulness of GIS in site selection, particularly in sitting solar photovoltaic plant. It is recommended that further study should include transmission line which was completely omitted in this analysis due to inability to get the shapefile from the ministry of power.

Impact of Formal Education on Learners' Development in Ghana

Education is the required tool to approach development gainfully. The structure of formal education in Ghana triggered this study to find out the impact of formal education on learners’ development in Ghana. Primary and secondary data were used throughout the study. 32 respondents across the country were used in the questionnaire administration. Statistical and content analyses were used to describe the gathered information. Purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents from the 16 regions in Ghana. The following were the major findings; formal education in Ghana is typically artificial and knowledge-based, formal education in Ghana has failed in the upbringing of learners to realize societal goals and aims because learners are not socially trained, formal education in Ghana is not structured according to the societal needs hence societal problems are escalating rapidly, and subject that can train learners in moral and personality development is undermined by formal education in Ghana. Based on the findings, it was recommended that; formal education in Ghana should move away from a theory-based on practical based to secure jobs for learners’ development. Moreover, the content for formal education in Ghana should be restructured according to societal needs. Again, the programmes for formal education in Ghana should be created based on industrial needs so that learners could be the best fit or placed in industries that deal with their specifications or qualifications. Finally, formal education in Ghana should be reconsidered to constitute moral development to curb societal problems such as arm robbery, gambling, and smoking.

ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT OF COVID-19 CHALLENGES ON PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF NIGERIANS

Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 challenges on the psychosocial wellbeing of the Nigerian populace are the focus of this paper. There are diverse reasons for the essence of assessment of this pandemic; however, the major reason is to document it for future generations. This study, therefore, examined the challenges faced by the populace as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in the South-Western zone and Nigeria as a whole. The study was conducted using a volunteering sampling technique and 335 participants were used using telephone inquiry. Those who completed the interview were 203 (60.6%) males and the rest 132 (39.4%) were female respondents. The instrument has a reliability coefficient of 0.76. Some of the challenges or impacts of COVID-19 on Nigeria populace are hunger, lawlessness, arm robbery, economic crisis, political crisis, financial problem, and hike in the price of essential commodities, young adults resulting in abuse of drugs, raping, pool betting, and internet fraudsters. The spiritual houses like churches, mosques, and shrine were closed up, couples that have given up raising child still found themselves in it as a result of lockdown order and finally the loss of love ones due to CORONA Virus. Based on these findings it was concluded that COVID-19 among the citizenry had cost Nigerians a lot of havoc. Article visualizations:

Youth Unemployment: The Cause of Ethnic Conflict and Criminal Activities in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State Nigeria

This research work examined youth unemployment: the cause of ethnic conflict and criminal activities in Takum LGA of Taraba State, Nigeria. Unemployment to a large extent remains Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problem. Historically, unemployment situation in the country was heightened by introduction of structural adjustment programme (SAP). Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were employed for the success of the research work. Simple percentages were applied on a cross-sectional data of 120 sampled unemployed youths randomly selected from Takum Local Government Area in 2015. The study revealed that lack of employment opportunities stimulate young people to engage in ethnic conflict and criminal activities such as theft, arm robbery etc. In order to survive and earn material success. The study recommends that government should create more jobs opportunities and industries as unemployed youths can also benefit and meet their immediate needs, as this will drastically curtail ethnic conflict and criminal activities by unemployed youths

Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships: Revisiting International Law Definitions and Requirements in the Context of the Gulf of Guinea

Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships: Revisiting International Law Definitions and Requirements in the Context of the Gulf of Guinea