Community Based Early Warning in Conflict Management and Peace Building in Nigeria: An Analysis of Internal Security Issues

The myriad of conflict situations in Nigeria has made international communities to perceive the country as unsafe for investment. Our situation is worsened by government seeming insensitivity to early warning signals or rather security intelligence reports which tend to portray the potential for security breach, unless prompt action is taken by government to contain the situation. There is no single day that passes by, without one form of ethno-religious, communal conflict or the other in the country; talk less of the upsurge of violent crimes and acts of terrorism across the states. This paper examines community based early warning as a means of conflict management and peace building with a focus on the internal security issues. It also interrogates the causes of conflict and insecurity in Nigeria focusing on the theoretical assumptions that act as impetus to them. The paper notes that there is no conflict situation and insecurity emanating in the country without the foreknowledge of government but the management of the early warning determine to a great extent the intensity or other words the dimension, pattern and dynamics of the conflict. The paper notes further that it is government passive approach to conflict situations that generates to great destruction of lives and property. The paper recommends among others: effective communication between government and stakeholders, proper enlightenment at the grass root, quick response to early warning signals, building synergies across all stakeholders and prompt action against defaulters. Keywords: Early warning, Conflict, Conflict prevention, Conflict management, Peace building, Internal security, community based, Nigeria

Abolition of Commercial Motorbikes and Its Implication on Transportation and Criminality in Calabar Metropolis

The study examined the abolition of commercial motorbikes and its implications on transportation and criminality in Calabar Metropolis. The main objective of the study was to assess the implications associated with the abolition of commercial motorbikes as a means of transport and its effect on criminality in Calabar Metropolis. To achieve this objective, the study elicited data through questionnaire from 984 randomly selected respondents. Simple percentages and chi-square were employed to analyze elicited data at 0.05 levels of significance. The findings revealed that factors such as upsurge in criminal activities, rise in traffic accidents, traffic congestion and recklessness on the part of the operators of commercial motorbikes among others account for the abolition of motorbikes as a means of transportation in Calabar Metropolis. The study findings also revealed that the abolition of commercial motorbikes resulted in the delay of workers getting vehicles to their workplaces, increased in transportation fare charges and quarrel amongst commuters as they struggle to access few available transport vehicles. Furthermore, the study findings revealed that the abolition has resulted to an increase in criminal activities such as armed robbery, pick-pocketing, theft and snatching of valuables. The study recommends among others: the provision of alternative jobs for the displaced youths who have been affected by the government action, government should partner with private sectors to establish avoidable transport system for the masses and government should ensure that urban taxi cabs maintained approved standard transport fares in all routes to avoid arbitrary and unavoidable charges

CRIME AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF POLICE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN ENUGU STATE

This study inquired into the activities of the police in crime and criminal investigation with particular focus on the Police Criminal Investigation in Enugu State Police Command. The specific objectives of the study include: (1) an examination ination of the factors responsible for the high rate of ‘undetected ’ and ‘pending investigation ’ of criminal cases in Enugu State (2) an investigation of the training skills and strategies adopted by the police officers in criminal investigation (3) an ass assessment essment of the effectiveness of such techniques (4) an identification of the challenges confronting the police in criminal investigations. A total of 330 respondents were selected for the study. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires, oral interviews, nterviews, as well as from documents and crime statistics. Data generated through questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive techniques such as frequency count and percentage while the data obtained through interviews and documentary sources were content analyzed. The findings revealed that factors such as lack of training, skills, facilities, corruption, disobedience to due process and ethical standard among others account for the high rate of ‘undetected ’ and ‘pending cases ’ of criminal investigations in Nigeria as well as Enugu State. It also shows that the investigative strategies and techniques adopted by the police are not effective enough in addressing the challenges facing the police criminal investigation department