Organized Crime in Nigeria

Abstract

This study concentrates on the cultural, political, economic, neo-colonial etiologies of organized crime in Nigeria. Also, the study analyzes the nature and structure of Nigerian organized crime. Unique in Nigerian organized crime is the head of state leading his people like the boss of a mafia organization, and each state government and each federal government department operate like the unit of a mafia organization. In effect, controlling organized crime in Nigeria becomes a wild-goose chase. On the whole, the operations of Nigerian organized crime, in the main, surround more in the area of natural resources and government appropriation of the national cake than in business organized crime. Weak government is the modus operandi of organized crime, and Nigerian organized crime finds that expedient.