Interrogating Crime and Punishment Systems in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: The Western and Historical Approaches

Abstract

This study interrogates the approaches to crime and punishment systems in Nigeria with a focus on Akwa Ibom State. The purpose was to establish the extent to which it approximates the Western system. The study adopts the survey research design to randomly select ten Local Government Areas out of 31 and 15 youths from each of the Local Government Areas for the study. The Questionnaire (r=0.75) was used for data collected to establish the perception of the youths on Western and historical approaches to crime, punishment, and jungle justice. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentage, mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics of t-test. The findings of the study reveal that the weighted mean of 2.63 out of the 4.00 maximum obtainable scores, which is higher than the standard mean of 2.50. Also, it revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female perceptionsofWestern and historical approaches to crime, punishment, and jungle justice (t = -.411; df=148; p>0.05). Based on the findings, the study recommends that Western and historical approaches should be adopted when discussing crime, punishment, and jungle justice. The government should improve on ways to reduceand end crime in the society. Jungle justice should be discouraged and orientation programmes should be organised for people not to take laws into their own hands.