Traditional Administration and Crime Prevention in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The diversity that characterises human nature in social and political life provides a distinct setting for manipulating attitudes and behaviours toward crime. As such, rural communities worldwide adopt various strategies to prevent and control crime, including community policing, neighbourhood watch programmes, and local conflict resolution mechanisms. The participation of rural communities in crime prevention and control is assumed to be effective in various contexts, as it enhances the capacity for early detection and intervention, thus reducing the incidence of crime. This study, therefore, focused on traditional administration and its role in crime prevention. The literature review for the study was divided into three sections: conceptual review, theoretical framework, and empirical review. The study relied on the Integrated Theory of Peace. A mixed research design was adopted, with 400 respondents selected using Taro Yamane's sample size determination technique. Data were analysed using Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at a 0.05 significance level. The study concluded that traditional administration significantly influences crime prevention in Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Government of Akwa Ibom State enact more appropriate laws to empower traditional rulers in crime prevention.