Kin-based relationship, bane of fight against crime —Don

A member of a research team on community-based crime prevention, Dr Babatunde Ojeboye has said that the best way to tackle crime in every society is through community policing, which, he pointed out, has improved security in Nigeria.

Dr Ojeboye stated this at a lecture he delivered at a security summit organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State, at the headquarters of Lagelu Local Government Area, Iyana-Offa.

Saying that researchers had identified the reasons why security agencies had failed to win the war against crime in some communities, the guest lecturer described as unfortunate the situation whereby such communities remained insecure because of the kin-based relationship among the inhabitants.

Citing communities such as Oja’ba, Beere, Oopoyeosa as examples, Dr Ojeboye, also a lecturer at the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, stated that the research carried out had revealed that a combination of cultural and contextual factors had weakened community-based crime prevention practices.

He pointed out that many community members regard the act of reporting a kin engaged in criminality as an offence to tradition and ancestral relationship.

“Instead of reporting offenders to the police, community members resort to a poor alternative of calling them to order during meetings.

“Overall, the success of community-based crime prevention strategies depend on  the extent to which communities can legitimately take lead in identifying and resolving local problems, managing public spaces and complementing state crime prevention activities,” the Don said further.

In his opening remarks, the state NSCDC commandant, Mr John Adewoye assured members of the public of confidentiality and protection of their identities whenever they report the activities of suspected criminals to Civil Defence officials.

Adewoye, who was represented by Deputy Commandant Adisa Adedeji, said that the summit, which was the 15th of its kind, was designed to sensitise people on how to partner with security agencies, especially the Civil Defence, to prevent and tackle crime their communities.

Among the participants at the security summit were the Baale of Apateere, Chief Sunday Alamu; and the Balogun of Lalupon, Chief Supo Omoniyi;  while the Secretary of the local government area, Prince Adeagbo Samson urged civil defence officials not to compromise their incorruptibility.