Many studies on COVID have focused on economic losses, disruption of livelihoods, and adjustments in social relationships. But there have been few studies on adjustments in offenders’ behavior. Criminals have also replaced their habits, as evidenced by the accumulation of robberies in some communities.
As my new studies revealed, this has led communities in one of Nigeria’s largest cities, Ibadan, to paint in combination to keep their neighborhoods safe.
His initiative proved to be a success; For example, one respondent told me there were no flights while the effort was ongoing. This highlights the vital role that network surveillance can play in Nigeria’s overall security system. The other people I interviewed acted in a way that matched a Yoruba saying similar to security: “A house is a network. “That is, individual security leads to collective security; So if a user is Array, the network is also Array.
Since pre-colonial times, communities have played a vital role in their own security. Research has shown that this also occurs in outdoor communities in Africa.
COVID restrictions are over. This does not mean that network surveillance is no longer useful. The Nigerian government is exploring how the style I have studied can be harnessed to empower communities.
Community mobilization
My studio focused on Awotan’s networked paintings. It is largely populated by professionals such as lawyers, doctors and academics. Young citizens tend to work in the informal sector such as transport, masonry, sewing and carpentry. Awotan consists of seven zones or communities, each with its own executive. Each executive is composed of a netpaintings president, a vice president, a secretary, a protection coordinator, an environment coordinator, an electric power coordinator and a public relations coordinator. I interviewed 15 citizens, ranging in age from 30 to 58, to see how netpaintings have responded to security threats and COVID lockdowns.
Awotan is in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria. The state imposed a partial shutdown on March 28, 2020 that only allowed essential staff and certain markets to operate. Hotels, banks and schools were closed. slowed down Pandemic-related restrictions have forced consumers and business owners to move from business districts to residential areas.
Before COVID-19, Awotan communities were exposed to robberies, robberies and armed attacks. Awotan citizens were also concerned after gangs of armed robbers attacked 3 nearby communities.
Prior to the pandemic, the Central Community Development Association moderated the amount paid to the workers’ safety corps to ensure some consistency. When necessary, he helped police patrol communities.
During the pandemic, anti-crime structures have changed. A network clock monitored at the point of each network through its executive and at the central point through the president of the central system and some of his cadres.
Community policing has increased the blockade. The network’s central executive committee met with zonal executives to agree on simultaneous proactive mobilization of the network. Each network protected its own borders and patrolled the black spots.
Groups went out every night in the middle of the afternoon, from one space to another, whistles to call other people to be part of the initiative to protect the network. their presence and deter criminals. Residents were also divided into other teams to patrol the network’s borders and protect themselves from invasions.
One of my interlocutors me:
“Neighboring communities have been assaulted and robbed. They robbed the Pápá network. In the network of Aderogba the thieves arrived on motorcycles but we mobilized with this network to resist them. We have replaced the surveillance operation and the patrol because we have not experienced any theft in our network since following a simultaneous patrol operation. “
Another male resident said, “My painting network has more than two hundred houses and more than two hundred families. Before COVID-19, occasional robberies occurred on the day most people went to paint when robberies were the most popular. While some homes have experienced serial burglaries and robberies, many did not. News of victimization in the domain led many other people to sign up for the netpaintings surveillance team.
He added: You see, if you don’t sign up and thieves raid your house, you’re left alone. Those who do not sign up can be singled out as saboteurs of community protection. So it’s older to go out and patrol with them. “
The network has now returned to the old form of surveillance, but coordinated with the training of central executives.
Community policing is important
The structures that shaped the neighborhood watch remain in place despite the easing of confinement. And communities work together when there is a risk to their lives.
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