ISSN 2039-2117 (online)
ISSN 2039-9340 (print)
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences
www.richtmann.org
Vol 14 No 3
May 2023
44
.
Research Article
© 2023 Ogbonna et al.
This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Received: 26 February 2023 / Accepted: 20 April 2023 / Published: 5 May 2023
Examining the Traditional Methods of Crime Control in an Identified
Traditional Community: An Invitation to the Socio-Anthropological
Jurisprudence of Mpam Community of Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State
Hyginus Obinna Ogbonna
1
Chidi Slessor Mbah
2
C.A.C Chukwunka
3
Benedict Ibukun Ajayi
4
1
PhD, Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin,
Benin-City, Edo state, Nigeria
2
Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
Abia State University, Uturu,
Abia State, Nigeria
3
Department of Criminology and Security Studies,
National Open University of Nigeria,
Abuja Main Campus, Uturu,
Abia State, Nigeria
4
Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
Benson Idahosa University (BIU),
Benin City, Nigeria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36941/mjss-2023-0018
Abstract
The paper focuses on assessing the traditional methods of crime control in an identified traditional
community. Its main objective is to examine critically the traditional methods of crime control in a
particular traditional community so as to appreciate the effectiveness of the traditional methods in crime
control. To achieve this objective, the traditional community of Mpam in Ahiazu Mbaise L.G.A of Imo state
was identified. An ethnographic non-participant descriptive method of analysis was used. Its sources of
information included observations as well as secondary sources (books, journals, and the internet). A few
theories were identified and reviewed, and the Control theory of Crime was adopted as the theoretical
framework. In its investigation, some findings were made; these include: Crime Control measures serve as
deterrents to prevent people from criminal behaviors; crime control methods in traditional societies may be
primitive in nature, but they help in effectively controlling crimes among the natives; besides, society itself
may be contributory in causing people to engage in criminal behavior. The paper therefore concludes that, in
as much as crime is inevitable in all human societies (modern or traditional) effective crime control methods
are the remedy to combat crime to achieve societal harmony. And thus, recommends: government should
encourage traditional societies to retain some of their traditional crime control methods that have proved to
be effective in controlling crime among the people; the leadership of traditional societies should review and
adjust some of their traditional crime control methods that may infringe on the individual’s human rights,
inter alia.
Keywords: Crime; Crime Control; Traditional Method, Socio-anthropological, Jurisprudence