Conclusion and Suggestions
p. 26-29
Texte intégral
1From the foregoing analysis it is evident that the ’Yan Daba, ’Yan Banga and ’Yan Daukar Amarya have diverse origins. The ’Yan Daba grew out of the political need to rig elections, intimidate voters and harrass the opposition. Their engagement for specific or various assignments is determined by the politicians in power. However, for 26 of the 36 years of Nigeria’s independence, the military has been in power. This means that a significant number of the ’Yan Daba are likely to be jobless during military rule. Long periods of joblessness create an atmosphere conducive to illegal and often violent activities; such has been the experience in various northern Nigerian cities during military rule. The ’Yan Banga, originally a vigilante group, became corrupted through the infiltration of members who saw that the operations of the group could also be used to serve illegal ends. The lack of jobs in these urban centres has nurtured these activities. The ’Yan Daukar Amarya, however, equally notorious for their violent attacks on women, are not generally motivated by money or politics. Mainly from well-to-do, permissive backgrounds, they exhibit a total lack of moral values, which parents are supposed to pass onto their children.
2At present, it makes little difference whether Nigeria is under military or civilian rule, the ’Yan Daba, ’Yan Banga and ’Yan Daukar Amarya have become established gangs. Their actions, overtly and covertly, in the North have changed the area from a relatively safe region into an unsafe one.
3To suggest an all-embracing solution for the total eradication of these criminal gangs is difficult. The best that can be done is to reduce their activities to the barest minimum. Borrowing the theory of Obateru, cities in the northern part of Nigeria should adopt an economic development strategy for mitigating the economic disparity between the lower and upper classes through efficient spatial distribution of various developmental opportunities, as well as public utilities and recreational facilities.
4Security measures in the urban settlements across northern Nigeria should be strategically mapped out and enforced especially in market places, bus stops, motor parks, hotels, cinema halls, the densely populated areas, and the suburban areas. This can best be done by patrols. Law enforcement agencies alone cannot effectively maintain a crime-free society without the co-operation of the citizens. To ensure this, the police should carry out a campaign of security consciousness, especially among women. Raising the security consciousness of the citizens will go a long way in reducing various criminal activities because:
Increasing the numerical strength or combat-readiness of security agents in a city... does not mean that the crime rate in such a city will be reduced.30
5Political leadership from the local government to the national level has been a source of insecurity since the Second Republic. ‘Naira politics’ and the ‘win-at-all-cost-syndrome’ which are characteristic of party politics in Nigeria have contributed to the birth of the ’ Yan Daba, – political gangsterism. It is difficult to give any final solution considering the different experiences of instability and the problems. According to Albert:
A corrupt, autocratic and illegitimate African leader cannot expect peace around him. Those who crave for a non violent political environment must create the enabling environment for peace by living responsible lives and listening to yearnings of the governed.31
6The rural-urban drift, especially children sent to Quranic teachers, almajirai, is an issue the various state governments in the North, as well as the Islamic authorities, must squarely face. Awareness should be created among parents regarding the need to protect the lives of these children from abuse by political gangs and criminals. This message should be taken to the grassroots, because the rural areas have been identified as being the feeder- roads of the urban poor. Ideas could be borrowed from some Islamic countries such as Indonesia, on how Quranic education could be administered without exposing the students to abuse. If every family monitors the movement and progress of their children, the rate of abuse will be reduced.
7Finally, the federal government in conjunction with the state governments should outlaw the ’Yan Banga. There is no doubt that during its initial stage, the ’Yan Banga was made up of law-abiding citizens, whose efforts were meant to help the law enforcement agents. However, the ’Yan Banga has now turned into a conduit for the perpetration of criminal activities in motor parks, on the streets and in people’s homes. With adequate training, better crime detection equipment and improved working conditions, there is no reason why the Nigerian police, with the cooperation of the citizenry, cannot maintain law and order in the northern cities.
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