ABSTRACT

This study examined the Nigeria Police Force and Challenges of Crime Control in Lagos State, a
case study of Kosofe in particular. This research-work was designed to give an in–depth
knowledge and analysis on the challenges confronting the Nigeria Police Force in their bid to
control crime and criminalities. In this regard, Anomie Theory which stated that “occurrences of
deviances are associated with the structural organization of the society” and Conflict
perspectives which argued that, there exists a class conflict in the society, were used to explained
the causative factors that lead to crime. The two perspectives clearly described the cause and the
nature of security challenges in Nigeria. The methodology employed in this study was survey
method and its involves both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Primary data were collected
from four hundred (95) Officers and Men of the Force, Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos
State, whom were selected at a random, with the aid of questionnaire. The Nigeria Police Force
is confronted with a lot of challenges, ranging from: corruption and political influence,
lack/shortage of manpower, poor welfare services and lack of modern/sophisticated crime
control facilities/equipment. The research therefore recommends among others; that the police
should be free and independent from any ministry/political office; the police should have an
annual recruitment process that will provide available qualitative and quantitative personnel;
there is equally need for the provision of proper and qualitative welfare services to the force,
and; the provision of needed facilities/equipment like modern weapons and taking due advantage
of existing crime control gadgets to constantly checkmate criminalities.

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 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Crime is a very serious problem in the Nigerian society. In fact, it has affected all facet of
social life to the extent that there is hardly a day that passes without reports of crime occurrences
across the country. As observed by Dambazau (2017), the country has been on the world crime
map since 1980s, and the types of crimes that are very common in country ranges from
homicide, armed robbery, rape, housebreak, car theft, fraud, drug abuse, bribery and corruption,
gambling, kidnapping, smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking, cyber crime, money
laundering, advanced fee fraud (419) and more recently oil bunkering, and genocide activities by
criminal herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists. Consequently, crime has constituted a threat to
the economic, political and social security of Nigeria. It discourages both local and foreign
investments, decreases the quality of life, destroys human and social capital, damages
relationship between citizens and the states, and more so, it undermines the rule of law,
democracy, and ability of the country to uphold development (Adebayo, 2018). To tackle this
menace, the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is empowered by the Nigerian government to check
the scourge. Out of the three agencies of the CJS; police, courts, and the prisons, the police are at
the forefront to control crime (Ofolokunbi, 2016). According to Section 214 (1) of the Nigerian
constitution, the government of Nigeria only recognizes a single police force Nigeria Police
Force (NPF), and empowers it with the statutory responsibility of “detection and prevention of
crime, apprehending and prosecution of criminals, protection of lives and property of citizens,
enforcement and maintenance of laws and order”. It was later in 1966 that the function of
ensuring “free flow of traffic especially in cities was added (Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, 1999). However, as the Nigerian society progresses, especially with the advent of the
present democratic system of government, new forms of violent crimes have also emerged and
the society has become more insecure with many people getting involved in diverse sophisticated
criminal activities (Bayley and Shearing, 2018). This poses as a serious challenge to the Nigeria
Police Force in their attempt to manage crime in the country. Daily, cases of crime are reported
in the media, and in most instances, the police appear helpless to control the situation. In some
instances, crimes do occur, and the presence of the police is not felt at all. This indicates that
there are challenges confronting the police in their crime management initiative; thereby making

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them not to perform optimally in their constitutional task. Based on the foregoing, this study
seeks to assess the Nigeria police and crime management in Lagos State a case study of Kosofe
Local Government. This is necessary because despite efforts by the government and other
relevant authorities to boost the crime management capacity of the NPF, crime still occurs at an
alarming rate and it is unabated.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The persistent security problems and the inability of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to
manage crime is worrisome. Among all the security agencies in the country, the NPF is
mandated by the constitution to be at the forefront of supplying internal security and manage
crime. Sadly, in carrying out this mandate, the NPF appears incapable of managing the enormous
crime problems the country is facing presently. Daily, incidences of crime are occurring
unabated. Instead of witnessing effective and efficient policing from the NPF, citizens and
foreigners residing and doing business in the country are seeing a weak police force incapable of
addressing existing and emerging crime problems in the country. In Kosofe Local Government
Area, the situation is not an exemption as crime has become a recurring decimal without
effective and efficient response from the NPF to manage the situation. Almost on a daily basis,
the local government faces crime situations such as; theft, assassination, kidnapping, rape,
burglary, and the likes. Yet in all these, there is no adequate policing from the NPF to stem the
tide of crime. Annually, government at all levels provide huge budgets for security and through
such financial provisions, claims are made that the NPF has been equipped to tackle crime
problems. Furthermore, to buttress their claim, the media in some occasions showcase crime
fighting equipment purchased and supplied by the government to the NPF to boost their crime
management initiative. However, instead of witnessing a reduction in crime rate, the menace is
still escalating at a frequency that is very alarming. It is on this note that this study emerged to
assess the Nigeria police and crime management in Lagos State a case study of Kosofe Local
Government.

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1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were raised to guide the study:

1. What are the main challenges confronting the NPF in their bid to manage crime in
Kosofe L.G.A?
2. Are crime situations becoming too complex for the NPF to manage in Kosofe L.G.A?
3. Does it mean officers and men of the NPF lacks the capacity to effectively manage crime
in Kosofe L.G.A?
4. What are the possible solutions to address the challenges NPF are facing in their bid to
manage crime in Kosofe North L.G.A?

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of the study was to assess Nigeria police and crime management in
Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. This objective was achieved in collaboration
with the following specific objectives:

i. to examine the main challenges of the NPF in crime management in Kosofe L.G.A;
ii. to establish whether crime situations are becoming too complex for the NPF to
manage in Kosofe L.G.A;
iii. to find out whether officers and men of the NPF lack the capacity to effectively
manage crime in Kosofe L.G.A;
iv. to proffer solutions that will serve as possible recommendations for the amelioration
of challenges confronting the NPF in crime management in Kosofe L.G.A in
particular and Nigeria in general.

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H01: There is no significant relationship between the challenges faced by the NPF and crime
management in Kosofe L.G.A.

H02: There is no significant relationship between the complexity of crime and its management
by the NPF in kosofe L.G.A.

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H03: There is no significant relationship between the capacity of the NPF and effective crime
management in Kosofe North L.G.A.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study on the Nigeria police and crime management in Kosofe Local Government
Area of Lagos State will be relevant to the police in the development of crime prevention and
control strategies. Similarly, the work will equally be important to other law enforcement
agencies, as they may use it for designing plans and methods to be used in tackling crime and
criminal problems.

Furthermore, its findings will be useful to government and other relevant agencies in
improving their provisions of operational facilities to the police and other security agencies to aid
crime control.

Also, the work will also serve as relevant material for further research on activities
Nigeria police and crime management in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State and
Nigeria in general. It will also add to the existing literature on crime management in the world.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study was limited to Kosofe L.G.A, Lagos State. In order to assess the
Nigeria police and crime management in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State
Command alone was considered. The reason was that, the stipulated time given for the study did
not allow the researcher to cover other Police Commands in other states of the federation. Apart
from this, the researcher had no sufficient funds to go beyond the study area.

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1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Nigeria Police Force: Is an agency of government that is responsible for the maintenance of
public order and crime prevention. In this study, the NPF shall represent security institution
responsible for crime management in Kosofe L.G.A of Lagos State.

Crime: Crime simply connotes a steady descent into social chaos”. For the purpose of this study,
it shall represent any act that is contrary to law in Kosofe LGA.

Crime management: This is defined as the measures or mechanisms taken by any society or
state to ensure members conform to its laws. In this study, it refers to the fundamental function
of the NPF to check illegal acts in Kosofe L.G.A.

Crime rate: crime rate simply means the number of times at which social chaos take place over
time in Kosofe LGA

Criminal: those who are flaunt civil and social rules that guide the Kosofe LGA

Crime control: the rate at which the Nigeria police force in Kosofe LGA able to take charge of
the level of crime in Kosofe LGA

Insecurity:

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 THE CONCEPT OF POLICE AND CRIME MANAGEMENT

Police is an agency of government that is responsible for maintaining public order and
preventing crime. Policemen are the government officials most proximate to crime-temporally
and procedurally and are the leading figures in crime-prevention/management and in the law
enforcement process (Odekunle, 2019). In general, the responsibility of crime management
agencies is to detect crimes, apprehend the perpetrators, and provide evidence that will convince
judges and juries that the perpetrators are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt (Nicol, 2018). Police
also refers to a socio-political and quasi-legal institution charged with the responsibility of crime
control, enforcing criminal law and the maintenance of law and order (Alemika, 2013). The
police in Nigeria are State officials charged with responsibility for 'crime control, law
enforcement and order maintenance' in society. To discharge these twin responsibilities, the
police are empowered to use force, indeed violence. National constitutions and statutes,
international conventions and rules; police departmental orders and professional ethics regulate
the use of force or violence by police. But despite these provisions, the police in most societies
use force and violence beyond the limits permissible by law (Aremu, 2019). A further
conceptualization of what police is, according to Alemika (2013), shows that it is paramilitary in
nature and it is so constituted to comprise able-bodied men and women, trained with the sole
purpose of defending the status quo. That is, enforce the laws, values and ideologies that justify,
legitimize and defend prevailing distribution of power and wealth in society (Aremu, 2019).
However, police brutality is one of the major obstacles to the prospect of the Nigerian police
being a positive factor in pro-social change initiatives. The police in Nigeria, with the backing of
autocratic leaders and repressive laws - frequently acted outside the rule of law. Often, they were
laws unto themselves, maiming, killing and detaining persons arbitrarily and with impunity. In
Nigeria, police repression had been institutionalized since colonial rule. However, police
repression became increasingly intensified under the successive military regimes after 1966
(Alemika 2013). As been observed, police repression has persisted, and in most cases intensified.
For instance: The Nigeria Police Force is still largely vicious and corrupt. Crime has been
defined in various ways by different scholars such as Onoge (2016).

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 For instance, Onoge (2016) defined crime as an act or omission which renders the person
doing the act or making the omission liable to punishment under any order in council, ordinance,
law or statute. Clinard (1974) sees crime as those activities that break the law of the land and are
subject to official punishment. To Adler, Muellier, and Lauifer (2001) crime is any human
conduct that violates criminal laws and is subject to punishment. While Adeyemi (2001) defined
crime as acts that violate laws (formal, official, written statements of norms). According to them,
no matter how reprehensible an act or the omission of an act may be, a crime has not been
committed unless a specific law has been violated. Moreover, the violation must be either
intentional or negligent. However, in spite of the differences in the definitions given by those
authors the fact remains that a crime:

i. is an act or omission

ii. proscribed by the state

iii. has a punishment for its occurrence.

Australian Institute of Criminology AIC (AIC, 2012) defined crime control as the variety
of approaches that are applied by individuals, societies, industries, non-government institutions
and all tiers of government to target the numerous social and ecological influences that upsurge
the danger of crime, disorder and persecution. Crime control depicts those actions that are
intended to prevent or reduce the incidence of a particular type of crime. This can be done
through altering the environs in which they happen, or by superseding more approximately to
alter the social or other circumstances which are supposed to have fundamental implication with
respect to them. According to NPF (2009) decreasing rate of crime also stresses a process of
analysis to control the source of specific types of criminal activities as well as the harmonization
of resources and abilities of a variety of role players to implement and develop suitable
interferences (Ladan, 2018). Crime control also refers to the distraction of instruments that
causes crime. Crime control is also defined as the design of attitudes and actions directed at both
decreasing the danger of crime and improving the sense of protection and security to definitely
influence the quality of life and to develop situations where crime cannot commit (Adebayo,
2013). Criminologists have outlined three perceptions of crime prevention which are primary,
secondary and tertiary preventions (Adebayo, 2013).

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 a. Primary Prevention: Under this approach, societies try to alter ecological
circumstances that provide chances for the incidence of criminal actions.
b. Secondary Prevention: At this stage, efforts are intensified to change people,
particularly those at high risk of getting on criminal occupation before they do so.
The agents of this secondary crime prevention include; the mass media, various
agencies and organizations like Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and public
enlightenment.
c. Tertiary Prevention: At this phase, the actual offender is the main focus. The aim is
to prevent future occurrence of the criminal acts. It also aimed at total eradication of
the criminal acts. Prisons and probation homes are the agents involved in this stage.

2.1.2 NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND THE CHALLENGES OF CRIME

MANAGEMENT

Taking into account the amount of quality protections provided by the Nigeria Police
Force (NPF) for the entire population and the level of confidence and encouragement it enjoys
from these people, one cannot but conclude that the NPF performance is far below the
expectation many people place on them. There are several cumulative problems that contribute to
the abysmal performance of the Nigeria police. This ranges from material to human and external
challenges. Widespread of corruption among the members of the NPF is alarming. This has
greatly soiled the image of the police. Alemika (2013) postulated that police corruption is a
serious issue because they are expected to be moral as law enforcement agency. The issue of
police corruption is an undeniable fact with several evidence of their involvement. These among
many others are; police connivance with some individuals to help offenders out of police custody
after obtaining money from suspects, closure of case files, escorting vehicles loaded with
contraband goods and stolen items, stealing from suspects and or accident victims, stealing from
crime scenes, supply of police arms and ammunition with police uniforms to criminals for
monetary gain etc (Olurotimi, 2012).

Furthermore, Odekunle (2004) gave some categories of obstacle that hinder the optimum
performance of the Nigeria Police Force thus: poor police remuneration for both officers and
men of police command is another notable factor that has created abysmal performance for

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police officers in performing their constitutional duties. The issue of police corruption as
discussed above does not only occur between the police and the public but also with the strata of
police structure. There have being cases whereby senior police officers have deprived other
officers especially junior once the right of increment in salary for some time. These people have
been alleged to have stacked the money in a fixed deposit out which will yield some interest for
them before releasing it fund. In a healthy democracy, the law and the provision it makes for the
detection, arrest, trial and punishment of offenders is an expression of the will of the public; it
constitutes the institutionalized norms of society. It is the society that elects members of
parliament in order to frame the law, that appoint judges and magistrates to interpret and enforce
that law and that recruits police forces to be the more active protectors of that law (Varwell,
2008). Unfortunately, Nigerian government and the security system of the country have failed
and need to be reshaped. The ongoing debate in Nigeria about the creation of state police is
connected to the present insecurity situation and the failure of the security system in the country.
In this regard, Solomon (2021) stated that, “one issue that has continued to generate controversy
and heated debate with regard to the practice of Federalism in Nigeria is the issue of states
having their individual police force or departments. It was the former Lagos State governor,
Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, who first flew the kite during his first term as governor. He posited that the
security of the state was porous thereby giving room for criminality and that there was need for a
state police force to effectively combat the ugly trend of crime in Lagos State (Solomon, 2021).

Furthermore, there are serious problems with the country’s judicial system that hamper its
ability to protect life, property and liberty of the people, and this has brought about a general loss
of confidence in Nigeria’s laws, law enforcement machinery and judiciary (Vision 2010; 1997).
A study conducted by Metibobo (2010) on ‘crime prevention and control in Nigeria’, has found
that, “concerning crime prevention in most of the Nigerian cities, 65% of the 26 informants
agreed that a lot is being done in modern times to stem the tide of crime in these cities”. Majority
of the respondents said that: even with the advances made thus far by government, the impact of
the police on combating through such slogans as “fire for fire”, “operation sweep”, etc. have only
been cosmetic. There is a great deal more to combating crime than providing a stronger police
presence or security operatives as well as providing more and better alarm systems (Metiboba,
2009). Complains and criticism against the activities of the NPF is not a recent phenomenon,
Bradley, Walker and Wilkie (1986) stated that, “at the present time, pressure upon the police is

10
mounted irresistibly and from every quarter, it comes from politicians, government minority
groups and local communities, from the general public and the media. They all want changes in
policing - more efficient policing, stronger policing, more responsive policing, and some no
policing at all.” In Nigeria for example, it was identified during a workshop on ‘the police and
social justice’ organized in 1994-1997 that political and social instability, economic insecurity,
poor accountability by holders of public offices, inconsistencies and lack of continuity in
government programme’ constitute major constraints and defaults to social justice in the country.
Others include; poor working condition and lack of adequate welfare for police force
(Communique, 1994-1997). Similarly, Vision (2010; 1997) mentioned that: the police force
suffers from poor funding, poor remuneration, lack of modern facilities, and corruption among
some policemen, inadequate personnel and poor training, which hampers the smooth running of
law enforcement as one of their primary functions.

From the above therefore, the following are identified as the major challenges faced by the
NPF in their bid to effectively carry-out the task of crime management in Nigeria

a. Corruption and Political Influence

This is one of the most widely pervasive problems of Africa. In developing countries,
corruption is really regarded as a crime, even though it is specified crime (Marshall and Daniel,
2013). Corruption is preserved in Nigeria, it is found being practiced by the rich and the poor, the
height and the lowly. Corruption in Nigeria is attributed to the growing spin of materialism and
the craze for wealth (Onwuenme, 1982). In support of this, Vision (2010; 1997) stated that: “the
ordinary Nigerian appears helpless in the face of weak and selective application of sanctions
against the perpetrators since the law enforcement agencies have themselves become infected
with corruption”. Nigeria’s legacy of mismanagement and corrupt governance has encouraged
many people to find a way of sharing the national cake instead of helping to bake it. By 1999,
corruption was practically institutionalized. Over time, the judiciary became intimidated, as the
rich and powerful manipulated laws and regulations to their advantage (Needs, 2004). The police
take the lead in corruption, particularly the shameless type of bribe giving and taking. It is known
to the majority of the low and high that bribery and corruption are so widespread and of daily
occurrence; that it is the rule rather than an exception, and it is now assumed that no citizen can
obtain justice from the police except by bribery. It does not matter that you are innocent or that

11
you are the complainant to the police. You must have to give something to a Nigeria police
officer; otherwise, a complainant may end up being the suspect to be charged to court
(Ofulokunbi, 1986). In this connection, Onwuenme (1986) stated that: through intimidation,
some people offer bribe in simple matters that do not constitute a breach of law. Many members
of the public often do not want to be involved in cases such as reporting accidents on the high
ways and crimes they have witnessed. They believed that the police could turn the case against
them after receiving bribe from the suspect. 28 Corruption among the police started right from
the level of recruitment, as such, Ismail (2012) reported that, “no fewer than 234 police recruits
undergoing training at Kaduna Police Training College have been dismissed from the training for
various offences ranging from forgery, theft and leprosy”. Similarly, not less than 812 policemen
including 17 officers up to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police in Nigeria faced one
disciplinary action or the other during the year (1996) for extortion and bribery (Ogaga, 1997).
Onwuenme (1982) observed that, “if the police are corrupt, the society in which they operate
bears the greater blame”. The hostility of the public towards the police and the public image of
the Nigeria Police Force can be traced to the fact that police came into existence during the
colonial period and were used as a paramilitary force to enforce colonial policies (Akinkoye,
2016). After independence the trend of political influence on the police continued, for example,
Nwolise (2008) stated that, “the Nigeria Police Force had the problem of political influence. The
Nigeria Police Force was very badly used against political opponents of the ruling National party
of Nigeria and against the masses of the people in the period 1979-1983. The police arrested
thousands of members of other political parties”. Political interference with the activities of the
police has a long history in Nigeria and is still in existence. Presently, in order to rig elections
and to intimidate their opponents, politicians in Nigeria use the police. The most significant fact
about Nigeria is not only that it is an underdeveloped neo-colonial economy, but that it’s society
is so badly cleft along social, economic and political lines that conflict is almost a built in
endemic of the political system (Nweke, 1985). It is significant to note that to have a well-
ordered society, there must be an honest and law-abiding police force that will set examples and
carry through the necessary reforms in the attitude of Nigerians towards discipline and
conforming to the law.

Summarily, the police is a tool in the hands of the political class, and so if any member
or associate of that class commits a crime, it is difficult to enforce the law as it is required.

12
Again, they take orders from the politicians in office. So, politically motivated crimes are always
treated differently in the eyes of the law. The police have the challenge of operating with
obsolete laws, and so regulations to check contemporary crimes are not adequately provided for
by our laws. Thus, effective enforcement of the law is difficult to achieve. The police also have
the problem of lack of adequate and modern equipment to carry out the function of law
enforcement effectively in the face of contemporary crimes.

b. POOR CONDITION OF SERVICE AND LACK OF MODERN POLICING

EQUIPMENT

So much had been said about the deplorable condition of the Nigeria Police Force. The
police should not be blamed always for the state of insecurity in the country; it is unrealistic of
anyone to expect decent behavior from anyone who is made to work under the condition and
situation which our police personnel do. It was stated in the Communiqué (1994-1997) that, “the
police are not satisfied with the low level of logistic and financial support currently provided for
the police force, a factor which affect morale and the effective functioning of the force, despite
the overwhelming responsibilities entrusted to the force”. Furthermore, Vision (2010; 1997)
stated that: the condition of service in the police force, including basic salaries, allowances office
and residential accommodation, is very poor and has tended to aggravate the problem of
corruption within the force. Similarly, Odekunle (2000) identified “discouraging salary,
condition of service, rank mobility, promotion-criteria and procedure, distrust and non-usage of
outside help (e.g. research), as some of the human problems that affect the performance of the
force”. If one considered the statement made by Freie, (1972), who posited in his book (the
pedagogy of the oppressed) that “the oppressed usually let off the steam of their wrath and
frustration on their fellow oppressed”. Therefore, it is concluded that the situation in which the
Nigeria Police Force found themselves may be part of the reasons why they engage in unethical
behaviors. A practical example of the condition of the Nigeria Police Force is the description of
the challenges facing Mpape police station located in Abuja were four discarded shipping
containers served as operational based for the police force. Musa (2017) explained that “it is
from here 93 police personnel manage one patrol vehicle and were expected to provide security
to one of the most densely populated satellite town in the country’s Federal Capital Territory. We
have one non-serviceable vehicle, which is presently grounded. The station has just one obsolete

13
computer with no internet access and some of the containers have no light fittings no adequate
ventilation”. It was further discovered in the station that: It was a ship wooden structure
constructed in to a police counter and charge room. The station has no rushing water no drainage
system. No person, suspect or even criminal should be kept in this kind of place. The conditions
are terrible for humans to live in. The situation in Mpape is the reality of too many police
stations in the country (Musa, 2017).

In addition, the police officers complained of poor salaries, which are irregularly paid,
no life insurance policy, indecent and insufficient barracks, lack of equipment, absence of
motivation packages, etcetera. In the face of hazardous duty, they perform and are expected to
perform (Usman, 2018). In connection to the above, Aluyor (2015) observed that “armed robbers
in Nigeria operate almost freely in the society, using deadly weapons without being challenged
and detected by the police and where the police are fully informed, they give excuses that they
do not have weapons to fight armed robbers”.

c. INADEQUATE PERSONNEL, TRAINING AND ILLITERACY

Concerning the inadequate police personal, it has been observed in a workshop organized
at Ilorin, Kwara State, in April 1997 that the Nigeria Police Force is presently under staffed,
especially at the lower cadre (rank and file). Because of this demand placed on the force (partly
as a result of the creation of State and Local Government Council Areas, and vacuum created by
dismissal and retirements) commissioned officers are now performing the statutory duties of the
rank and file. The workshop therefore recommended that the embargo on recruitment of
personnel be lifted (Communiqué, 1994-97). In support of the forgoing, Vision (2010; 1997)
indicated that “whereas the United Nations prescribes an ideal police-population ratio of 1:400,
the current ratio in Nigeria is 1:700. It was mentioned further that it is not only in number that
the police force is deficient, its quality is also poor”. The above is an indication that shortage of
police personnel has been a problem in Nigeria long before now. The current security situation in
the country is an indication that additional police personnel are needed in the country. In support
of the above, it was observed at Maitama police headquarters that: As many as 278 of the
station’s total strength of 327 personnel are security guards to top government officials and
politician, the station is left with only 47 police personnel to carter for the security demands of
the less privileged ones in the Area (Usman, 2018). The Nigeria Police Force experienced

14
endemic problems with recruiting, training inefficiency and indiscipline, and it lacked expertise
in specialized field (UN, 2008). In this regard, Onwuenme (2015) stated that, “education and
monetary rewards enhance one’s social prestige. Since many in the police force have neither
good education nor income, their prestige suffers”. During a workshop on ‘police and social
justice’ organized in September 1996, at Owerri, Imo State. It was observed that there is lack of
standardized career development of the police personnel. There is need for the training and
retraining of the police to be adequately funded to meet the need of the society (Communiqué,
1994-1997). There is ignorance, both in the population at large and in those agencies that deal
directly with the people about the nature of police organization and police work and of the
problems involved in managing them (Bradly et al., 1986). The overt lack of knowledge of the
laws in security duties has informed a gross misapplication by security operatives in Nigeria. In
addition, on the part of the citizens, the level of illiteracy and apathy to security matters has
contributed to the police failure in areas of fundamental rights (Odita, 2010). In support of Odita,
Abrahamson (2017) believed that: prevention and elimination of crime is truly a problem of
education, educating each man and woman to find within his or herself, worthwhile values by
which he or she can live. In connection to the above, a study conducted on ‘violence specific and
burglary specific fear’, by Joseph, Wan-Ning, Fredrick, Lorenz and Zdenka (2016) discovered
that “lifestyle patterns and routine activities of individuals are also important in signaling
criminal opportunity, and therefore, rational levels of fear in general, increased exposure,
increased target attractiveness, and diminished guardianship are expected to heighten the
respondent's fear”.

2.1.3 COMPLEXITY OF CRIME AND THE CHALLENGES OF POLICING

The 21st century has brought new challenges to the police, in Nigeria and other countries
of the world. Terrorism, globalisation, large-scale population movements and entrenched social
problems pose crime control threats that are increasingly seen as beyond the scope and
capabilities of traditional policing. New agencies have been established, private policing has
boomed, and governments have sought to make individuals, businesses and community
organisations increasingly responsible for their own safety. To maintain, or regain, their
leadership of this new agenda, police agencies need first to recognise and understand the

15
changing environment and its challenges (Weisburd and Braga, 2007). The speed of
technological advancement, increasing globalization, and the exponential growth of global
markets have created opportunities for criminal activities, often with a low risk of detection and
using new forms of anonymity. Preventing and combating new and emerging crimes is a
challenging task. Crime is continually evolving and adapting. While organized crime, illicit drug
trafficking and terrorism have been of major concern for the past two decades, other forms of
criminal activity are now coming to the fore, such as cybercrime, sexual exploitation of children,
environmental crime and trafficking in cultural property along with piracy, an old form of crime
which has re-emerged. These crimes may not necessarily affect all countries at the same rate or
with equal severity (UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Justice, 2015). What they have in
common, however, is that by the time they are recognized as a transnational threat, they may
already be too extensive to tackle. Factors in the emergence of these crimes include
globalization, the proximity of poverty, conflict and weak rule of law to high value markets, and
the rapid appearance of new forms of modern technology and global connectivity (UN Congress
on Crime Prevention and Justice, 2015).

In this changing cultural and social climate, contemporary policing is marked by the
diversification and uncertainty of crime control problems. Prior models of policing could focus
on relatively known and stable categories of offences and offenders, and on traditional, reactive
responses to them. The new problems evolve rapidly, depend on a broad range of political,
social, technological and economic factors, and require new skills and innovative and flexible
responses. Existing models of policing generally do not have these attributes. Police are
challenged not just by the new paradigm, but also by their declining relevance and effectiveness
as the central agents of crime management. Until recently, public police dominated the delivery
of modern crime control. But trends in governance and the regulation of society have led to the
pluralisation and privatisation of policing efforts, and the growth in administrative and regulatory
agencies with crime control and prevention functions (Weisburd and Braga, 2007).

Additionally, a trend to response mobilisation has meant that communities and

individuals are expected to contribute to their own regulation, security and safety (Bayley and
Shearing, 2001). Contemporary policing services are increasingly provided by networks of
public, private and welfare organisations, with public police as one node of the network. Despite

16
the early promise of community, problem-oriented and other innovative models of policing
(Weisburd and Braga, 2006), police are increasingly displaced or subjugated by these other
agents and nodes of crime control. A growing literature describes how functions once largely
monopolised by public police are now shared among different security providers, such as state
and private security services; military, regulatory and welfare agencies; transnational
organisations; and private interests (Bayley and Shearing, 2001; Mazerolle and Ransley 2005,
2006). This trend has led to the need for a redefinition of the policing function, as well as a
redefinition of the role that the public police occupy within these new structures (Bayley and
Shearing, 2011). While the policing of terrorism has been the focus of much attention, other new
issues are emerging that also challenge existing police practices. NPF has been an active
participant in providing police as peace-keepers and trainers in the development of democratic
policing in former war-zones or failing states.

This role recognises the need for participation in international efforts to strengthen
policing in places where terrorism develops, such as Somalia, Liberia, and Sudan, and to prevent
the problems that might be caused by the collapse of failing states in the region (Bayley, 2006).
The collapse of such nations could lead to human rights abuses, provide haven for terrorists, and
lead to mass refugee movements. Participation in these missions has exacerbated organisational
problems, such as staff shortages and deficiencies in training, but has also required police to
adopt new or different roles. International deployments focus on the maintenance of security,
community and capacity building, and the development of democratic practices (Bayley, 2006).
Nigeria Police Force has participated in these activities as part of task-forces or teams, alongside
international, military, public sector, aid and welfare agencies. The skills required for these tasks
are significantly different to those required in policing mainstream crimes domestically, with
Bayley (2007) emphasising the need for deployed police to have both an understanding of
regional, historical, cultural and language issues, and the role of community policing in
developing and strengthening democratic institutions. Another emerging problem has centred on
increases in movements of people, as refugees from political unrest, poverty and potentially from
climate change. While the Nigeria Police Force has always had to deal with unauthorised arrivals
(Lynch, 2009), the problem has recently developed new dimensions.

17
 Additionally, the experience of epidemics such as Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and bird flu has led to fears of epidemic
affected populations arriving. As a result, new immigration controls have been developed or
strengthened and there is considerable overlap between these controls and those directed at
restricting terrorism and other crime threats, bringing police and other agencies such as those
responsible for immigration, customs and public health into closer working proximity. On
occasions, those overlapping roles have been poorly coordinated and deficient (Palmer, 2005). In
practice, policing in Africa is much less clearly defined than in western countries, and its
definition probably needs to be broadened beyond the activities of formal groups. In 36 Nigeria,
for instance, policing must be understood in relation to the activities of the Nigeria Police Force,
the military (some of whom may be deployed as special police units), some eight or more
paramilitary units, various palace guards, numerous quasi-official units in various states, and
miscellaneous thugs associated with strongmen. Groups such as the Bakassi Boys, Oodua
Peoples Congress (OPC) who drives around in police vehicles and are financed by some state
governors; provide vigilante-style policing (Ismail, 2012). The police in collaboration with the
relevant state security agencies also provide surveillance network on the activities of persons
considered security risks in order to prevent sabotage and subversion of the nation and its
established institutions. Nevertheless, internal security over the years have been described as
pathetic as notable as well as unknown individuals have lost their lives, and till date, a lot of
these deaths have not been resolved based on the slow pace of investigation processes by the
Nigeria Police Force. These include; the murder cases of Chief Bola Ige, former Minister of
Justice in December, 2001 at Ibadan; Barrister and Mrs. Igwe in September 2002 at Onitsha;
Alhaji Isiaku Muhammed in September, 2002 in Kano, Sir Theodore Agwatu in February 2003
in Owerri; Chief Ogbonna Uche also in February 2003 and Dr. Harry Mashall in March, 2003
(Ismail, 2012). Situations like these have called the Nigerian police and policing strategies
especially in relation crime control since independence to questions. Accounting for these is the
dismal image of the police overtime which has also led to the non-cooperation by the public who
are often reluctant to volunteer useful information to the police (Odekunle, 2019). Yet, the tasks
of crime prevention and detection as well as prosecution of offenders cannot be successfully
performed without the cooperation of the public. It is in this regard that Odekunle (2019)
highlighted the challenges facing policing under four major yardsticks of:

18
 i. Effectiveness (fewer or reduced criminal victimization; higher proportion of
crimes
ii. known to the police cleared by arrest; increased recovery of stolen property;
higher rates of arrests which result in conviction; lower traffic accident rates;
faster response time to reports/complaints).
iii. Responsiveness (higher citizen perception of safety from crime; higher citizen
ratings of police performance in general; higher citizen ratings of specific police
activities; higher citizen ratings of specific aspects of police conduct such as
honesty, integrity, courtesy and fairness).
iv. Equity (with reference to egalitarian distribution of "protection" to all sections of
the population). Efficiency (with reference to cost-and-benefit analysis of
"protection" output relative to monetary, human and material in-put). Public
hostility and indifference are the most perplexing problems the police force is
experiencing today. The Nigerian publics have come to demand so high an
expectation from the police.

The top hierarchy of the Nigerian Police Force do not begrudge them for doing so. No
one is more sensitive to the great and urgent need for more efficient and effective law
enforcement than the top brass of the force. They not only appreciate but also concede that
without the full and uncompromising support of the public, their efforts cannot fructify
(Odekunle, 2019). The problem however is that the public do not advert their minds to the
limitations placed on police capabilities by various factors not of their own making. The
individual citizen fails to appreciate that he is equally responsible for law enforcement and that
he has powers and obligations under the law to accomplish this task. If he was an eyewitness of a
crime, he would rather decide to look the other way than perform what one may regard his civic,
if not legal, duty to come forward to give the police necessary information in his possession
(Odekunle, 2019).

19
2.1.4 POLICE CAPACITY IN CRIME MANAGEMENT

The persistent security problems and the inability of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in
ensuring security and safety of life and property in the country are worrisome. The sources of
security challenges in the country are numerous and cannot be blamed on one part of the system
alone. They vary from the government to the police down to the people in the society. On the
part of the police, there are many inadequacies and problems which stand as obstacles
responsible for its abysmal performance. Most Nigerians describe police as a motley crowd of
lazy, inefficient, corrupt uniformed men and women contributing to the perpetrating of crimes
such as mass killing, intimidation, rape, extrajudicial killings/summary execution and other
heinous crimes against citizens they are paid to protect (Uhunmwuangho and Aluforo, 2011).
Nigeria Police Force performance is unsatisfactory; the police are incapacitated, ineffective and
inefficient in their job of crime prevention, criminal investigation, and response to distress calls
by citizens. The poor performance is due to several factors, but mainly to lack of development of
productive and social infrastructure in society; inappropriate policing strategies; inadequate
intelligence gathering, analysis and utilization skills and facilities, inadequacy of officers in
terms of quality and training at various ranks; poor training and conditions of service; lack of
public co-operation; grossly inadequate logistics (especially transpiration; telecommunication,
arms and ammunition etc); poor remuneration and lack of motivation by the force and superior
officers. The challenge is that an ineffective police force cannot command the respect of the
public (Adeyemi, 2001).

The Nigeria Police Force (2008) in their annual report noted that the police is
incapacitated and handicapped to police the society due to combination of factors that plagued
them, among which are; lack of resources, poor government support, poor condition of service,
lack of appropriate and adequate training and ill-equipped workforce. Coupled with these are the
issue of police extortion and corruption and other vices common among the police system which
contributes to their lack of efficiency (Alemika, 2013). One of the glaring problems that
contribute immensely to the NPF incapacity in crime control is the issue of lack of manpower.
The force is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria with a staff strength of about
371,800 consisting of 36 commands grouped in 12 zones and 7 administrative organs (Wikipedia
on NPF, 2015). This manpower strength is definitely too minimal to cope with the policing of the

20
population of Nigeria which is estimated to about 150 million. The police also lack adequate
training of their staff (Idowu and Imo, 2014). According to Ibidapo-Obe (2003), training is an
invaluable tool for the effective policing of any society. The Nigerian police are untrained or ill-
trained, they lack the requisite knowledge, skill and attitude for effective crime control and is
also a threat to the society (Idowu and Imo, 2011). Again, the Nigerian Police Force in the
modern age seems to be handicapped in the face of current realities. It has been noticed that
despite the teeming police personnel, the force is still bereft of manpower in certain quotas.
There have been situations in which the police complain of shortage of staff when issues are
reported to them (Idowu and Imo, 2014). Physical infrastructure and equipment is often a
primary obstacle to successful capacity of the Nigeria Police Force policing in transitional
societies. Many years of lack of investment in equipment or an inappropriate investment in
security infrastructure leaves the NPF with uninhabitable accommodation, obsolete/archaic
equipment and enormous backlog of assignments. Outdated communication gadget,
unserviceable the absence of an institutional framework and standardized method of data
collection for crime information management have seriously affected the ability of the police and
other law enforcement agencies to produce reliable official statistics on crime (NOPRIN and
NHRC, 2010). Inadequate/lack of scientific 40 crime prevention facilities, e.g. CCTV cameras,
fingerprint equipment, forensic laboratory also affects police efficiency in crime control.
According to Onovo (2011), there is no denying that police in this country are poorly equipped
and do not have modern technological equipment to perform effectively. In police stations and
other offices, police are still dependent on manual record keeping and it takes a lot of time to
trace out criminal records of suspects in this age of advanced information and communications
technology. Computers are hardly found in police stations and important offices of the police
administration and, in most cases, police officials are computer illiterate. It has been noted that
the Nigeria police lack adequate modern technological equipment that can help in assisting them
combat crimes in the society. Abdulkadir (2004) asserted that the Nigeria Police Force lack
adequate communication gadgets, vehicles, computers, crime detecting appliances, forensic
experts and laboratories. For him, it is even a thing of shame, that some of the police officers do
not even know what CCTV mean and stands for. Idowu and Imo (2014) argued that, besides
poor training of the NPF in handling of weapons, lack of adequate education is another challenge
of the police in their bid to control crime. The police incapability as a result of poor training is a

21
very serious one, because it invariably affects their ability to use their discretion at times to
tackle the complex nature of crime in the Nigerian society. The police used primitive equipment
in crime prevention and control, lack of facilitated forensic laboratory and data bank, lack of
adequate intelligence, educated, trained, skilled and qualified personnel and lack of experts in the
specialized fields (Idowu and Imo, 2014). Similarly, Odita (2010) argued that the Nigerian Police
Force is not properly equipped for its task of crime control. According to him, the NPF lack
standard equipment such as operational vehicles (towing, surveillance and patrol),
communication gadgets, and alcohol detectors among others. They are faced with low staff
strength, while the competence of the few staff is poor. Many of them are not only untrained but
in most cases un-trainable. The NPF also has poor record- keeping facilities. All these put
together affects the police capacity in crime control.

2.2 Theoretical Framework

Anomie Theory

According to the Anomie Theory developed by American sociologist Robert Merton, in

the late 1930s, crime is not simply a function of deprivation but the result of a disjuncture (lack
of connection) between ends (goals) and the means to attain those ends. Merton argues that,
deviance results not from pathological personalities but from the culture and structure of society
itself. He begins from the standard functionalist position of value consensus, that is, all members
of societies share the same values. However, since members of society are placed in different
position in the social structure, for example, they differ in terms of class position; they do not
have the same opportunity of realizing the shared values. This situation can generate deviance
(Lynch, 2009). In Merton’s word, ‘the social and cultural structures generate pressure for
socially deviant behaviors upon people variously located in that structure’ (Haralambos and
Heald, 2001). People who aspire through the cultural norm for economic achievement but are
denied the education, capital, or other means to realize those ends will experience strain
(anomie). According to Merton, there are three possible responses to this strain. First, the person
may try what Merton calls innovation. Although the individual continues to accept the cultural
value of success, he or she will employ illegitimate means, such as theft or robbery, to obtain

22
money because legitimate means to achieve this end are not available (Haralambos and Heald,
2001).

Another possible response is what Merton termed retreatism. The person gives up the
pursuit of economic success and engages in self-destructive behavior, such as drug abuse.
Finally, Merton identified the response of rebellion, wherein the person abandons the culturally
dictated goal of economic achievement and engages in revolutionary activities or in attempts to
reform the system (Lynch, 2009). In Nigeria, just like in other modern societies, education is an
important avenue for social mobility. Individuals who have a good education tend to have good
jobs and are likely to attain occupational success. It is therefore difficult for people who have no
access to good quality education, do not have social connection, and cannot attain a high level of
education and occupational status to rise in society. There is a great temptation for individuals
who cannot succeed through acceptable channels of mobility to employ socially prescribed
means to attain their ends (Onwuenme, 1982). From the forgoing, therefore, it is clear that the
Anomie Theory provides explanation to crime and security problems in Nigeria.

Presently, in Nigeria, even those that are privileged to attain a high level of education are
found committing crime, due to the high level of unemployment and unbearable state of poverty
in the country. Consequently, many people are left with no other option than to resort to what
Merton called innovation, thereby, become criminals. Similarly, the activities of the militant
groups in Niger delta, Boko Haram in north eastern part of the country other related groups can
be regarded as what Merton termed as rebellion. In connection to the above, Metiboba (2010)
stated that: a school of thought has proffered that until something realistic is done about poverty,
ignorance and diseases that stare on the faces of average person in most of families in developing
countries, there can be no crime control measure that will succeed in this place. This explains the
challenges the police is confronted with in controlling recurring crimes in Nigeria. Property
crime such as theft, arson, burglary, etc is rapidly increasing and becoming one of the major
problems of developmental progress in Nigeria (Tanimu, 2003 in Metiboba, 2010). Commenting
on the issue of Boko-Haram, Magaji (2009) stated that; we are living in the same country but
these youth see the children of politicians, governors, ministers and the rest of them driving
expensive vehicles and the majority of the children of the poor are not getting three-square
meals. In view of the above issue, the Anomie Theory clearly described the causes of crime and

23
the present security problems in Nigeria. However, it fails to clearly explain why the police are
finding it difficult to control the situation. This gap in knowledge is addressed by the theoretical
explanations of the conflict theory as presented below.

Conflict Theory

Those who follow the teachings of German political philosopher Karl Marx (1818 –
1883: known as Marxists), who was the pioneer of the conflict theory believed that there exists a
basic conflict, between those who own and control the means of production and those who do
not. Those who control economic relationship constitute a ruling class that control social
relationship. The interest of the capitalist determines when and to whom the law is applied. Laws
are selectively imposed against those people who threaten the interest of those who own and
control the means of production. However, when members of ruling class violate such laws,
sanctions are not rigorously enforced (Quinney 1974). The Conflict theory opined that: Law is a
tool by which the ruling class exercises its control. Law both protects the property of those in
power and serves to repress political threats to the position of the elite. Law is the state’s
coercive weapon, which maintains the social and economic order, and supports some interest at
the expense of others, even when those interests are that of the majority (Vago, 2000).

Furthermore, studies attempt to relate the disproportionate involvement of poor people in

crime to the distribution of power in society. The assumption in these studies is that criminal law
is a tool used by the social group with higher economic status to advance its class interests. This
theory asserts that criminal law is fashioned according to the needs of these elites, and to the
detriment of classes with lower status (Lynch, 2009). The assertion of the conflict theory that
‘who made the law, who benefits from it and who breaks the law, as well as law is a tool by
which the ruling class exercises its control’ clearly explain the situation in Nigeria, where the
police serve as machinery through which laws are violated and manipulated to protect the
interest of the politicians and the elite class in the name of maintaining law and order.

Therefore, the police lack the capacity to effectively control crime on their own. What is
crime is determined by the ruling class, and laws are made through the constitution to control it.
The police is the product of the constitution made by this ruling class, they serve as tools in their
hands. Thus, they police what they are told to police, they use the operational facilities provided

24
by the ruling class whether they are sufficient or not. The ruling class also have the discretion to
recruit more policemen to control crime or not. And in Nigeria, they have refused to recruit more
to check crime, they have refused to equip the police and enhance their capacity to control crime.
Therefore, crime escalates and the police are totally incapable to control it, due to the decisions
of the ruling class.

The Adopted Theory

For this Study After a careful examination of the explanations given by the two theories
discussed above, the conflict theory of Karl Marx was adopted as the theoretical guide for this
study. This is because its assumption offers more explanations to the reasons why the Nigeria
Police Force is facing challenges in their bid to control crime. Although, the Anomie theory of
Robert K. Merton explained the causative factors that lead to crime, the Conflict theory of Karl
Marx offered more explanations on the challenges of crime control which is the crux of the
study.

25
 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODS

This chapter dealt with the methods adopted in order to get information necessary for the
study. Accordingly, it was segmented into the following sub-headings: research design, study
area, study population and sample size, sampling techniques, instruments of data collection, and
method of data analysis.

3.1 Research Design

The research design chosen for this study was the survey design. It was adopted, due to the
exploratory nature of the study. The design was directed at collecting data or information using
the questionnaire responses.

3.2 Population of the Study

The study population basically comprised of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force
serving in Kosofe Local government Area. The Police command in Kosofe is falls under Area H
command, it Area command office located at Ogudu Road, Ojota. The command has thirteen
division under its command which are, Alapere division, Ketu division, Oworoshoki division,
Alade division, Anthony division, Ogudu division, Onipanu division, Bariga division, Isheri
division, Shomolu division and Ifako division. The population of the study comprise of officers
who are responsible for crime management in the area.

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques

The research population comprised of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force, serving in
the police formations of Kosofe local government Area under Area H command of Lagos state.
Selection of sample of the study participants was done through the use of the stratified random
sampling technique. In order to have a good representation of the study population, the four (4)
police stations in Kosofe Area division were all selected and the Area Command headquarter
was purposely selected, making it five (5). For the purpose of this study, the three (3) cadre of
ranks, that is, the SPO’s, the Inspectors and the Rank and Files/Non-Commission Officers cadre
were all selected. Furthermore, systematic sampling technique was used to select names of the

26
twenty (20) respondents from the staff duty roster of each station/division including the Area
Command. Finally, one hundred (100) respondents were selected for the study.

3.4 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS.

For the purpose of this study, the researcher makes use of Respondents’ Questionnaire

(RQ) as an instrument for data collection. The instrument consists of two parts: the descriptive

and the analytical part. The descriptive part consists of respondent’s bio-data while the analytical

part consists of twenty questions in all, which is sub divided into four headings and each

headings has five questions which is design using likert scale format with four options:

SA- Strongly agree (4)

Agree (3)

D- Disagree (2)

SD- Strongly disagree (1

3.5 Method of Data Analysis

For the purpose of this study, simple percentages tool of data analysis was used to present
the quantitative data gotten from questionnaire responses from respondents. Also, the chi-square
analytical tool was used to test the hypotheses of the study.

27
 CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this chapter efforts are geared in analysing the data collected from the questionnaire
administered to Police officers in Area H command in to investigate the Nigeria police and crime
management in Lagos State a case study of Kosofe Local Government.

To compute the responses of the respondents clearly for an effective research study, the
options are represented thus:
SA = 4
A=3
D=2
SD = 1 =4+3+2+1 = 10 = 2.5 criterion mean
4 4

The formula for determining the returned questionnaires is given thus:

Returned questionnaires ×100
Total number of questionnaires administered.

95x100
100 =95%

28
4.1 Analysis of respondents bio-data
Table 4.1: Percentage distribution of respondents’ gender

Gender No. of respondents Percentage

Male 64 67.4
Female 31 32.6
Total 95 100

Table 4.1 above shows the that majority of police officers in Kosofe local government area of

Lagos State are male with 67.4% of the total population, while female are 32.6%.

Table 4.2: Percentage distribution of respondents’ age

Age No. of respondents Percentage

Below 20years 3 3.2
20-29years 14 14.7
30-39years 22 23.2
40-49years 33 34.7
50years and above 23 24.2
Total 95 100

The table above shows 3.2% as the population of staff who are below 20years of age, 14.7% are

between the age of 20-29years, 23.2% are between the age of 30-39years, 34.7% are between the

age of 40-49years and 24.2% are between the age of 50years and above. The result shows that

majority of the respondents are between the age of 40-49years.

Table 4.3: Percentage distribution of respondents’ marital status

29
Marital Status No. of respondents Percentage
Married 46 48.4
Single 11 11.6
Divorced 20 21.1
Separated 18 18.9
Total 95 100

The table above shows that 48.4% as the respondents are married, 11.6% are single, 21.1% are

divorced while 18.9% are separated. The result shows that married of the officers are married.

Table 4.4: Percentage distribution of respondents’ educational qualification

Educational Qualification No. of respondents Percentage

FSLC 5 5.3
SSCE 21 22.1
ND/NCE 28 29.5
Bsc/HND 34 35.8
Others 7 7.3
Total 95 100

The table above shows 5.3% as the responds of officer with first school leaving certificate,

22.1% of the respondents has senior secondary schools certificate, 29.5% has national diploma

and national certificate in education, 35.8% of the respondents has Bsc/HND certificate, while

7.3% of the respondents has other qualifications not list on the bio-data. This implies that

majority of the police officers in Kosofe local government area of Lagos State are gradute.

Table 4.5: Percentage distribution of respondents’ rank

30
Rank No. of respondents Percentage
SPO 31 32.6
Inspector 15 15.8
Non-Commission officer 49 51.6
Total 95 100

The table above shows 32.6% of the respondents are SPOs, 15.8% are inspectors while 51.6%

are non-commission officer.

Table 4.6: Percentage distribution of years in service

Years in service No. of respondents Percentage

Below 7years 19 20
8-14years 15 15.8
15-21years 29 30.5
22-28years 20 21.1
29-35years 12 12.6
Total 95 100

The table above shows that 20% of the respondents are below 7years in service, 15.8% are 8-

14years in service, 30.5% are 15-21years in service, 21.1% are 22-28years in service and 12.6%

are 29-35years in service.

4.2 Research Analysis

31
Table 4.7: Examination of the main challenges of the NPF in crime management in Kosofe
L.G.A
S/N Statement F X FX ƩFX ƩFX/N Criterion mean
1. Uncooperative attitude of 4 24 96
member of the public in term 3 28 84 244 2.57 Accept
of provision of adequate and 2 21 42
timely information on the 1 22 22
activities of suspected person
in their neighbourhood to the
police
2. Insufficient modern crime 4 43 172
prevention and control 3 18 54 301 3.17 Accept
equipment/facilities such as 2 31 62
fountain pen camera, facial 1 13 13
capbuilt in cameral/recorders,
etc Poor remuneration of
officers and men of the
command
3. Poor welfare services and 4 34 134
insufficient salary to cater for
3 23 69 262 2.76 Accept
the needs of officers and men 2 21 42
of the NPF 1 17 17
4. Mobility problem in term of 4 52 216
vehicles, helicopters, and
3 37 111 329 3.46 Accept
motorcycles. 2 6 12
1 0 0
5. Insufficient/poor quality of 4 49 196
training of officers and men in 3 26 78 309 3.25 Accept
the modern art of crime 2 15 30
prevention and control. 1 5 5
Source: Field work 2023

The above shows 2.57 as the means score for uncooperative attitude of member of the
public in term of provision of adequate and timely information on the activities of suspected
person in their neighbourhood to the police, 3.17 as the mean score for insufficient modern crime
prevention and control equipment/facilities such as fountain pen camera, facial capbuilt in
cameral/recorders, etc Poor remuneration of officers and men of the command, 2.76 as the mean
score for poor welfare services and insufficient salary to cater for the needs of officers and men

32
of the NPF, 3.46 as the mean score for mobility problem in term of vehicles, helicopters, and
motorcycles and 3.25 as the mean score for insufficient/poor quality of training of officers and
men in the modern art of crime prevention and control.

Table 4.8: Crime situations are becoming too complex for the NPF to manage in Kosofe
L.G.A

S/N Statement F X FX ƩFX ƩFX/N Criterion mean

6. Cyber Crime 4 43 172
3 18 54 301 3.16 Accept
2 31 62
1 13 13
7. Globalization 4 36 144
3 28 84 281 2.96 Accept
2 22 44
1 9 9
8. Ethno – Religious crises 4 47 188
3 26 78 307 3.05 Accept
2 15 30
1 5 5
9. Children exposure to sexual 4 24 96
activities 3 28 84 244 2.57 Accept
2 21 42
1 22 22
10. Environmental crime and 4 35 140
trafficking 3 44 132 306 3.22 Accept
2 16 32
1 2 2
Source: Field work 2023

The above shows 3.16 as the means score for Cyber Crime, 2.96 as the mean score for
Globalization, 3.05 as the mean score for Ethno Religious crises, 2.57 as the mean score for
Children exposure to sexual activities and 3.22 as the mean score for environmental crime and
trafficking.

Table 4.9: Officers and men of the NPF lack the capacity to effectively manage crime in
Kosofe L.G.A

33
 S/N Statement F X FX ƩFX ƩFX/N Criterion mean
11. Launching of Forensic Lab 4 56 224
3 37 111 339 3.57 Accept
2 2 4
1 0 0
12. Beats and Patrol System 4 36 144
3 28 84 281 2.96 Accept
2 22 44
1 9 9
13. Stop and Search Method 4 48 240
3 31 93 360 3.79 Accept
2 11 22
1 5 5
14. Community Policing 4 24 96
3 28 84 254 2.67 Accept
2 31 62
1 12 12
15. Intelligence gathering 4 35 140
3 44 132 306 3.22 Accept
2 16 32
1 2 2
Source: Field work

The table above shows 3.57 as the mean score for launching of forensic, 2.96 as the means score
for beats and patrol system, 3.97 as the mean score for Stop and Search Method, 2.67 as the
mean for Community Policing and 3.22 as the mean score for intelligence gathering.

34
Table 4.10: Solutions that will serve as possible recommendations for the amelioration of

challenges confronting the NPF in crime management in Kosofe L.G.A in particular and

Nigeria in general

S/N Statement F X FX ƩFX ƩFX/N Criterion mean

16. Provision of adequate 4 43 172
professional police manpower 3 18 54 301 3.17 Accept
2 31 62
1 13 13
17. Provision of qualitative and 4 36 138
quantitative training and 3 28 84 281 2.69 Accept
training facilities that will cater 2 22 44
for the present society crime 1 9 9
activities
18. Making available the standard 4 43 174
welfare to policing system 3 18 54 303 3.18 Accept
2 31 62
1 13 13
19. Provision of modern policing 4 24 96
equipment/tools/gadgets 3 28 84 244 2.57 Accept
2 21 42
1 22 22
20. Provision of good salary and 4 49 196
allowances package to police 3 26 78 309 3.24 Accept
personnel 2 15 30
1 5 5
Source: Field work

The table above shows 3.17 as the mean score Provision of adequate professional police
manpower, 2.69 Provision of qualitative and quantitative training and training facilities that will
cater for the present society crime activities, 3.18 as the mean score for Making available the
standard welfare to policing system, 2.57 as the mean for Provision of modern policing
equipment/tools/gadgets and 3.24 as the mean score for Provision of good salary and allowances
package to police personnel.

35
4.2 HYPOTHESES TESTING

Hypothesis 1: There is no significant relationship between the challenges faced by the NPF and
crime management in Kosofe L.G.A.

Respondents No of respondent Df ∝ Cal. Value Crit. Decision

Value
Police 95 12 0.05 19.57 21.026 Accept H01

From the analysis above the calculated value is less than the critical value on the note
there is enough evidence for the researcher to accept the stated null hypothesis.

Hypothesis 2: There is no significant relationship between the complexity of crime and its
management by the NPF in kosofe L.G.A.

Respondents No of respondent Df ∝ Cal. Value Crit. Decision

Value
Police 95 4 0.05 12.57 21.026 Accept H01

From the analysis above the calculated value is less than the critical value on the note
there is enough evidence for the researcher to accept the stated null hypothesis.

Hypothesis 3: There is no significant relationship between the capacity of the NPF and
effective crime management in Kosofe North L.G.A.

Respondents No of respondent Df ∝ Cal. Value Crit. Decision

Value
Police 95 12 0.05 12.57 9.488 Accept H01

36
 From the analysis above the calculated value is less than the critical value on the note
there is enough evidence for the researcher to accept the stated null hypothesis.

4.3 Discussion of Findings

During the cause of the study, it was found that unemployment is the major cause of
crime in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. This goes in line with views of some of
the D.P.O’s interviewed, that if majority of the public are employed to a specific type of work or
the other, it will engage them thoroughly, thereby giving them minimum time of their own to
engage in illegality, also, the salaries/wages earned by them will be sufficient for them. Other
respondents that viewed the causes of crime to other factors are relatively few. Unemployment,
therefore, can also be attributed to the reason why the country still remains underdeveloped.
Unemployment can also be attributed to the manner and level in which crime has eaten deeply
into the social fabric of the nation.

Moreover, on the challenges confronting the NPF on their bid to control crime Kosofe
Local Government Area of Lagos State and Nigeria at large, the study discovered that corruption
and political influence takes the frontline. This can be attributed to many factors; majorly among
them was the poor salary structure/scheme and poor welfare services received by the personnel
of NPF.

Furthermore, they added that, the general welfare services and even poor salary scheme of the
NPF, cannot afford most of the personnel to feed themselves, talk less of providing them with
basic social amenities and that of their respective families. Also, the police is a tool in the hands
of the political class and so, if any member or associate of that class commits crime, it is difficult
to enforce the law on them as it is required.

Again, the police take orders from the politicians in office; they operate according to their
68 orders. So, politically motivated crimes are always treated differently in the eyes of the law.
This corroborates with what Ofulokunbi (1986) asserted in chapter two of this study, that you
must have to give something to a Nigeria Police Officer, otherwise, a complainant may end up
being the suspect to be charged to court. Similarly, Onwuenme (1986) stated that: through

37
intimidation, some people offer bribe in simple matters that do not constitute a breach of law. In
this vein, Nwolise (1988) argued that, “the Nigeria Police Force has the problem of political
influence. According to him as stated in the literature section of this study, the Nigeria Police
Force was very badly used against political opponents of the ruling National Party of Nigeria and
against the masses in the period (1979-1983). The police arrested thousands of members of other
political parties”. Political interference with the activities of the police has a long history in
Nigeria and is still in existence.

Finding of the study, also revealed that, crime complexity has to do with advancement,
development and modernization of crime activities in the social context of the society, thus, the
study simply imputes that the major causes of crime complexities Kosofe Local Government
Area of Lagos State is mainly due to the large scale population that overpowers the available
strength and manpower of the NPF personnel securing the study area.

Additional factors are; the recent uprising, development and advancement in technology,
where the world is now a global village. Technological advancement brought about crime
complexity in Kosofe Local Government that includes cybercrime among others. The
respondents also gave other causes of crime complexity but they were relatively few, and not as
pronounced as the ones mentioned here. To them, the more an area witnessed increase in
population and development, the more new types of crime will emerge. In corroboration of the
forgoing, Vision (2010; 1997) argued in the literature section of this study that “whereas the
United Nations prescribes an ideal police-population ratio of 1:400, the current ratio in Nigeria is
69 1:700. It was mentioned further that it is not only in number that the police force is deficient,
its quality is also poor”. According to Usman (2012), as many as 278 of the station’s total
strength of 327 personnel are security guards to top government officials and politician, the
station is left with only 47 police personnel to carter for the security demands of the less
privileged ones in the Area. There have been situations in which the police complain of shortage
of staff when issues are reported to them (Lukeman, 2014).

Furthermore, the research also discovered that police employ many strategies in
controlling crime in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, but majorly among these
strategies was the use of surveillance in collecting and gathering of information/data. This also
corroborates with the view of Ismail (2008) in chapter two of this study, that the police provide

38
surveillance network on the activities of persons considered security risks in order to prevent
sabotage and subversion of the nation and its established institutions.

In addition, intelligence gathering was found to be the major area of capacity of the NPF
in controlling crime. This has to do with the collection of data/information from surveillance
team, under-covers and thorough investigation. This simply corroborates with what Idowu and
Imo (2014) who stated in the literature section of this study that, “…the police make proper use
of intelligence gathering as their main tool in crime control”.

39
 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents a summary of findings of the study and the conclusions drawn from the
findings as well as the recommendations offered as useful solution to the identified problems of
the study.

5.1 Summary

The main focus of this study was to examine the Nigeria Police Force and the challenges of
Crime Control in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The objectives of the study
were: to examine the main challenges of the NPF in crime control in Kosofe Local Government
Area of Lagos State; to establish whether crime situation are becoming too complex for the NPF
to control in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State; to find out whether officers and
men of the NPF lack the capacity to effectively control crime in Kosofe Local Government Area
of Lagos State; and to proffer solutions that will serve as possible recommendations for the
amelioration of challenges confronting the NPF in crime control in Kosofe Local Government
Area of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Findings from the study showed that; the police face a lot of challenges in attempt to control
crime in Kosofe. Prominent among these challenges are: corruption and political influences,
lack/shortage of manpower, poor welfare services and lack of modern/sophisticated crime
control facilities/equipment, which has serious implications on crime control.

5.2 Conclusion

The findings of the study were imperative to the conclusions that: men/officers of Nigeria Police
Force (NPF), have so many challenges confronting them in their bid to control crime,
particularly in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State . Prominent among these
challenges are corruption and political influences, lack/shortage of manpower, poor welfare
services and lack of modern/sophisticated crime control facilities/equipment. Findings of the
study, also revealed that, the police employ many strategies in controlling crime in Kosofe Local
Government Area of Lagos State, but majorly among these strategies is the use of surveillance in
collecting and gathering of information/data.

40
 5.3 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were developed and
presented below for consideration:

i. There is need for an independent Police Force in the country that will be free from any
ministry or political offices.
ii. The police should only be answerable to the InspectorGeneral of Police and the President,
and they should only act according to the stipulated laws guiding the affairs of the
general institution of the force.
iii. Since there is need for more police personnel, all incentives that will be required to
attract the right caliber of persons into the force need to be used.
iv. As such, there is the need for a strong committee that will involve the traditional rulers
and well-respected people in every local Government Area.
v. The committee should be responsible for the screening of those from their localities who
are willing to join the police and send them to the police service commission for
recruitment.
vi. Similarly, cases of corruption and police brutalities should be reported to the committee
to investigate and take legal action against the officer involved.
vii. There is equally the need to provide the Nigeria police with modern/sophisticated
vehicles and weapons.
viii. The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency equip the police with ultra –
modern arms and ammunitions as well as security gadgets. This has become necessary
now more than ever to enable the force fight the gruesome scourge of armed robbery and
other sort of crime ravaging the entire length and breadth of the country.
ix. There is also the need for the provision and operation of an effective insurance scheme to
take care of risk.
x. Provision of hazard allowance will equally be of great importance in improving the
police welfare. In addition, the police should be provided with other incentives such as
payment of special compensation to the families of police officers and men who die in
the cause of operation.

41
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 Appendix

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY,

DEPARTMENT OF…………………………

Dear Respondents,

I, …………………………………, A student of National Open University Lagos,

Mushin Lagos, I am currently working on a research title: “Nigeria police and crime
management in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.” This is in partial fulfillment
of the award of……………………………………….; your contribution will be used for
academic purpose and treated with confidentiality.

46
 SECTION A

SOCIO - DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS

This section aims to gain in - depth knowledge into the bio - social demographic and economic
variables of the respondent.

INSTRUCTION: Please tick as appropriate and write legibly to indicate your choice of answer to
each of the following questions as required:

1. Sex: Male { }, Female { }

2. Age Grade: Below 20years { }, 20-29years { }, 30-39years { }, 40-49years
{ }, 50years and above { }
3. Marital status: Married { } , Single { }, Divorced { }, Separated { }
4. Educational background: FSLC { }, SSCE { }, OND/NCE { }, B.Sc/B.A {
}, Others (specify) ……………………………........
5. Rank Cadre: SPO { }, Inspector { }, Non-commissioned officer { }
6. Years in service: Below -7 years { }, 8 – 14 years { },15 – 21 years { } 22 – 28 years
{ } 29 – 35 years { }

47
 SECTION B

1. What are the main challenges confronting the NPF in their bid to manage crime in
Kosofe L.G.A?

S/N Items SA A D SD
1. Uncooperative attitude of member of the public in
term of provision of adequate and timely information
on the activities of suspected person in their
neighbourhood to the police
2. Insufficient modern crime prevention and control
equipment/facilities such as fountain pen camera,
facial capbuilt in cameral/recorders, etc Poor
remuneration of officers and men of the command
3. Poor welfare services and insufficient salary to cater
for the needs of officers and men of the NPF
4. Mobility problem in term of vehicles, helicopters, and
motorcycles.
5. Insufficient/poor quality of training of officers and
men in the modern art of crime prevention and
control.

2. Are crime situations becoming too complex for the NPF to manage in Kosofe L.G.A?

S/N Items SA A D SD
1. Cyber Crime
2. Globalization
3. Ethno – Religious crises
4. Children exposure to sexual activities
5. Environmental crime and trafficking

48
 3. Does it mean officers and men of the NPF lacks the capacity to effectively manage crime
in Kosofe L.G.A?

S/N Items SA A D SD
1. Launching of Forensic Lab
2. Beats and Patrol System
3. Stop and Search Method
4. Community Policing
5. Intelligence gathering

4. What are the possible solutions to address the challenges NPF are facing in their bid to
manage crime in Kosofe North L.G.A?

S/N Items SA A D SD
1. Provision of adequate professional police manpower
2. Provision of qualitative and quantitative training and
training facilities that will cater for the present society
crime activities
3. Making available the standard welfare to policing
system
4. Provision of modern policing equipment/tools/gadgets
5. Provision of good salary and allowances package to
police personnel

49