An Associate Professor of Criminology at University of Alberta, Canada, Temitope Oriola has said that alienation characterized by social injustice is responsible for growing rates of hates crimes and terrorism in Nigeria.
Oriola said that Nigerians have become more alienated than ever, leading to increase in criminal resistance across the country.
To reduce the spate of criminal resistance, Oriola asked the federal government to provide safety nets for people to escape appalling social conditions characterized by isolation, failure, disappointments and unemployment.
He noted that land grab activities of States, Federal government and transnational oil corporations while dispossessing peoples will produce disastrous consequences as currently being experienced.
Alienation, according to him manifests in increase in mental illnesses, terrorism, ascendancy of Bokoharam, and unprecedented growing numbers of suicide in Nigeria.
Oriola who added that inadequate planning by the Buhari administration to ensure safety nets while fighting corruption ‘has led to unintended consequences’ of criminal resistance.
With a highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, the northeast according to the criminologist indicate the alienation of the Talakawa while “social media and Television channels showcase obscene displays of wealth further contributing to the feeling of being left behind”.
“Alienation in the Nigeria delta region of Nigeria encompasses alienation from the land and resources given that farming communities are affected by the land grab of transnational oil corporations. The Niger-Delta Avengers and MEND are also alienated from family kin and ethnic community. Material deprivation and government neglect remain a major source of alienation called resource frustration leading to the deployment of violent repertoires’ of protest.
“These include kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering or theft, vandalism and since at least 2005 a low intensity conflict involving the deployment of amphibious guerrilla tactics. The ascendance of Bokoharam is indicative of the alienation of the Northern poor people”.
