A professor of criminology in the department of Sociology, University of Uyo, Prof. Aniekan Brown, has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to adopt African strategies in fighting crime.
He noted that it was an aberration to employ euro-centric methods to fight crime in an African setting.
Speaking while presenting at the 114 Inaugural lecture titled “Criminological Enterprise: The C.A.K.E. As the New Order” Brown said the concept of CAKE, where C stands for Care, A for Affection, K for Kindness, and E for Empathy should be adopted when dealing with criminals.
He said studies and investigation from ex-convicts showed that they were forced to commit crime for lack of care, arguing that if they were cared for, loved, shown kindness and empathy, they wouldn’t have been pushed to crime.
“The virtues of caring for another, showing affection, being kind to people and showing empathy to others in humanity are virtues encouraged by the Almighty.
“Inquiring from the ex-convicts what motivated them to commit crime, their responses pointed to the argument if they were cared for, if those favoured by the status-quo showed them love, kindness, and shared empathy; they may not have been pushed to crime.
“It could be held that if those who indulge in corruption care about the led, show affection and kindness, and are empathic to the masses, corruption would be less hydra-headed,” he stated.
Prof Brown called on Nigerians to respect the nation’s symbols of identity like the National Flag, National Anthem, and the Coat of Arms, saying it would imbibe in citizens the spirit of nationalism as against sectionalism.
He urged the relevant authorities to be proactive in fighting crime, noting that since the statuses, roles, and institutions in the society are the major causes of crime, they also have the ability to curb crime.
“Emphatic and respectful disposition to the national symbols of identity, especially, the National Flag, National Anthem, and the Coat of Arms.
“Revering these will add value to spirit of nationalism over sectionalism in our bid to counter crime; A community consideration of the concept of security. This would ease the pressure on the militarized aspect of security; institutionalization of criminology and security studies.
“The statuses, roles, and institutions in the society are the major causes of crime. Inherent in them are the abilities to curb crime.
“To this end, the institutions of the family, education, economy, religion, and polity, as well as, occupants of positions in the social division of labour and their behaviours while in occupation of such positions, should be tailored towards combating crime.
“This should be done with Afro-centric and indigenous drift. Being Euro-centric in fighting crime on the continent of Africa should be seen as an aberration.
“Crime is a social creation. Its solution is in the social sphere. Knowledge of criminology is necessary for its understanding and subsequent treatment.
“Man is the problem. Man is the solution. May the ideas of criminology and security studies remain promoted for the common good,” he explained.
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