The idea of preventing crimes in Nigerian society has brought to mind the fact that every Nigerian has right and deserved to live in peace in this country and security of every Nigerian should be a top priority to the government of the day.
What is crime then? Someone ask, I think it is also important to look at the definition of the word ‘crime’
What Is Crime?
Crime in a simple language, is an act that is unlawful, and such unlawful act is punishable by a government or an authority.
Besides, considering the word “crime”, there is universally accepted definition of the word, ‘crime’ by the virtue of the modern criminal law, interestingly, what is called ‘statutory definitions’ of crime are there.
These were made possible because of certain reasons and purposes. What is widely accepted is that, crime however, is made by law; put it another way, nothing is a crime until it is said so by the applicable law, or sometimes, by relevant law.
Crime in the society is forbidden and it is punishable as well, by law, reason is because when once crime is committed, or there is criminal offence, it is simply an act that is harmful to either an individual or some individuals, it could be harmful to either community or society, even to a state.
Many have come to agree that, crime is a public wrong, and it could as well, be private wrong depending on which angle you view it.
Globally acts such as murder,and rape and theft are crimes and such acts are prohibited, Nigeria is not exempted. Therefore, what is called and known as criminal offence is dependent by criminal law of individual nation.
Ways To Prevent Crimes In Nigeria
What are the ways to prevent crimes in Nigeria? In this article, I am going to explain a good number of them, here they are;
1. Work With Relevant Public Agencies
To prevent crimes in Nigeria, there is need to collaborate and work with relevant public agencies that could assist in curbing crimes in the Nigerian society.
Such agencies could be neighborhood-based or it could be community-wide, but which ever way, they should be on ground to help solve crimes problems in the society.
2. Engage Youths On Positive Ventures
It is said that, the idle individual is a devil workshop, going by this fact, it is therefore, important to have youths engaged in positive and profitable ventures.
The youths within the neighborhood should have themselves in positive ventures, during their spare time, such spare time should be invested in things such as, recreation /exercise and tutoring programs and part-time work, and volunteer opportunities, etc.
3. Set Up Community Patrol
You should be security conscious. In your neighborhood you can organized what I called ‘ community patrol’, to watch dog your neighborhood.
There is even what they called ‘neighborhood watch’, organize such group and have them work with police. And take note, lighting your streets and homes, even your neighborhood is of advantage.
4. Enter Into Partnership With Police
There would be need to enter into partnership with the police, remember the slogan that says, police is your friend, build partnership with them. Decides to be a crime preventer, focus on solving crime problems within your neighborhood, rather than reacting to frivolous issues.
Encourage people living in your neighborhood to report any suspicious individuals, movements and/or activities.
5. Keep Your Neighborhood Clean And Tidy
Endeavour to keep your neighborhood clean and tidy. Everyone in the neighborhood should participate in this exercise, ensure that, every old and abandoned vehicles within the neighbourhood is cleared.
Old and uncompleted buildings, including run-down buildings should be kept clean and tidy Know where every member of your neighborhood lives, disarmed criminals by ensuring that, every body lives an opened life within your neighborhood.
6. Emphasize Crime Prevention
Emphasize crime prevention in your local neighborhood, make sure that schools, and the law enforcement agencies, and the public health agencies, and libraries, even other workplaces, including religious institutions, plus that of child protective agencies, and others such agencies within your neighborhood are working assiduously to ensure that, crimes are prevented, they should not necessarily react to crime or, violence.
What is expected of them is the kind of policies they have put in place to ensure that, crime, if not prevented, should be reduced to its bearest minimum. Something should be done to prevent weapons-related violence. It is time, they help the Nigerian society.
7. Discourage Illegal Activities Through Recreational Activities
The youths can be discouraged from crime or illegal activities through provision of recreational facilities at a park. The youths can be organized and asked to help work at the already existing park, by cleaning it, as well as, repairing the parks, by so doing the youths would be discouraged from indulging in illegal activities, but rather make some good time at the park with other colleagues.
They can be encouraged as well, to report every illegal or suspicious activities, and illegal movement to the nearby police. A well furnished play facilities and some organized recreation activities can attract the people both young and old back to the recreational center or parks in their large numbers hence, discourage illegal activities.
That is citizens, who are tax payer should ask their local government to established parks within their neighborhood, those damaged or vandalized parks should be repaired and make ready for use, and I think, with such development, the youths can be discouraged from crime, and crimes prevented.
8. Organize Anger Management Training For Employees
This kind of training for employees is important and necessary, reason is obvious, when provision is made for anger management, and stress relief, as well as, conflict resolution training, such training will definitely help employees to build a sort ofanti-violence atmosphere at their individual homes, even in the schools and to a large extent, in the community.
Apart from that, as an employer, you will discover that, you will make your working place a more conducive, more productive and violence-free and crime-free working environment.
Conclusion
Crime in the society is forbidden and it is punishable as well, by law, reason is because when once crime is committed, or there is criminal offence, it is simply an act that is harmful to either an individual or some individuals, it could be harmful to either community or society, even to a state. Many have come to agree that, crime is a public wrong, and it could as well, be private wrong depending on which angle you view it.