REINTEGRATION OF REPENTANT OFFENDERS AND CRIME CONTROL IN FULANI COMMUNITIES OF JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the traditional method of crime control and the reintegration of repentant offenders in Fulani communities of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the traditional process of reintegrating repentant offenders and the successes of this traditional method of crime control. The Reintegrative Shaming theory was adopted as theoretical framework. The study population consisted of the Fulani, Fulani traditional leaders, Pulaaku committee members and repentant offenders. Cluster, availability and purposive sampling techniques were used and 1,075 respondents were selected as the sample population. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were deployed for this study. While questionnaire was administered on the Fulani respondents, in-depth interviews were conducted with repentant cattle rustlers, Pulaaku committee members and Fulani traditional leaders. The quantitative data generated from the survey were analysed using percentages, frequency distributions while the qualitative data complemented the quantitative data. Findings revealed that the reintegration of repentant offenders required traditional processes, involving rituals and oath taking. The activities of the members of the Pulaaku committee culminated in the repentance of many offenders and the reduction of criminal activities in Fulani communities. The study recommends a further study to ascertain the fate of the victims of crimes and the impact of this traditional mechanism of reintegration as well as the sustenance of the efforts of the Pulaaku committee in controlling criminal activities in the study area.