Viewing from Ted Gurr theory of deprivation, one will
clearly see the primary source that fuel violent crime in Nigeria. This
classical theory explains why people engage in violence (riots, rebellion,
coups, criminal activities etc.). It examines the psychological causes
involving frustration and aggression as the primary source of human capacity
for violence. Frustration is neither necessary nor sufficiently leads to
violence but greed may drive to violence. Frustration is a much stronger motivating
force and prolonged frustration may cause greater probability for aggression.
Relative deprivation is the discrepancy between what people think they deserve
and what they actually think they can get (Gurr, 1970).
It is noteworthy that Gurr does not look to a more absolute
or objective indicator of deprivation as the source of violence. People can get
used to a bad state of affairs, even one that offers so little access to
life-sustaining resources that members of the group are starving or dying of
remediable diseases or exposure. However, if there is a significant discrepancy
between what they think they deserve and what they think they will get, there
is a likelihood of rebellion. Gurr posits this to be the case because there is
a feeling that their expectation cannot be met if the current statuesque is
maintained. The first situation may be a desperate one, but it is the second that
will be frustrating. So frustration produces aggression at individual, group
and societal levels.
This theory could be used to link rising number of
unemployed youths and violent crimes in Nigeria. A country that produce
thousands of university graduate every year without commensurate employment
opportunities may be creating a fertile ground for a feeling of frustration
among these unemployed graduates. Naturally, there is a feeling of joy and
great expectations when a student graduates from a university- these
expectations gradually fades away and is replaced by feeling of frustration
after some years of joblessness caused by little opportunity the society offers
the young graduate. As frustration prolongs and the feeling of deprivation of
what that is expected increases, there is a greater probability that the
individual or people can resort to illegitimate activities in order to
actualise their expectations in the society.
The rise in violent crimes (robbery, kidnapping, thuggery,
terrorism) committed by youths is a sign of ‘gap’ in the society. The society
already has expectations for individuals and established means of achieving
them. When the means are limited as youth unemployment is 46.5% in 2011, people
are forced to achieve the goals through illegal means to fulfil societal expectations.
Kidnappings are on the increase across Nigeria and the unemployed youths view the
business lucrative. They are available for recruitment by politicians. In the
Northern part, they are recruited both by politicians and religious groups to
be used in political, religious and terrorism acts. In the SW Nigeria, they
find easy employment in petty criminal activities. The culture must at least
accept, if not approve, violent action as a means to an end. This could be the reason
why suicide bombing is exclusive to the Northern part of the country as
violence is encouraged by some Islamic sects. Political violence is also likely
if the current leadership and or the socio-economic and political system are
seen as illegitimate.
Going by Arab States popular uprisings and various Occupy
movements where youth-led protests have forced authoritarian regimes from power
the time for the government to declare war on those factors that encourage frustration
on its citizens is now if we want to sustain our had earned democracy.
