Crime is a problem that spans many different cultures and countries. Crime can be defined as an act of commission or omission that results in a wrongful act or breach of duty. In the world today, crime has become a global problem. The number of people who are victims of crime is increasing, with many becoming more vulnerable than ever before.
Crime can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. It can happen anywhere: in public places or at home, at work, or on vacation. Most people know about murder, robbery, and fraud but there are many more crimes out there that are just as dangerous to society. It can be physical or emotional harm, financial loss, or even death.
The effects of crime on society are wide-ranging and varied. Crime affects everyone in one way or another and sometimes it's hard to know where it starts and ends. In my country Nigeria, crime has become part of our daily lives because we all witness it happening every day to the extent that some of us have started questioning what passes as a crime and what doesn't.
A crime I have witnessed
Before I entered the university, I have always heard stories of the different crimes and atrocities that go on around the university in my city: the university of Benin. A particular off-campus community is very notorious in all the stories I have heard and it's called ekosodin. Due to the activities of hoodlums and different gangs, renting a house in this community is cheaper than any other place, and that's why I ended up staying in this community when I entered the university.
One day, I decided to visit a friend in another community which I have heard is a lot peaceful. While having a conversation with him and some other friends, we suddenly heard a vehicle stopping to a screech outside and there was a bit of commotion; gates and doors were being shut. I took a peek outside and saw around 4 guys all with guns going into a house.
My friend saw it too and quickly went to lock his door. I asked what was going on and before hearing the reply, I already suspected; armed robbery! The hostel that was being robbed was just opposite the one I was and my heart kept pounding loud in my chest because I was afraid that we will be robbed next.
I was still by the window peeping over to the hostel being robbed and I could hear doors being broken down. My friend explained that a lot of robberies have been happening in the community and nothing has been done about them. A couple of minutes later, the robbers came out carrying some items and they quickly got into their vehicle (it was a bus). None of them was even wearing a mask!
After waiting for some minutes, I quickly took my leave. I was still in shock from the whole thing while I walked home and the last thing I want was to run into the robbers while in the middle of robbing another hostel. After that day, I grew a phobia of that community and avoided visiting anyone there. It isn't a nice feeling whenever I remembered I almost got robbed that day.
Aside from that, I have also witnessed similar things in the community I stayed, but none of them involved guns. It's usually the occasional extortion by the cultists we have lottery the area and sometimes, a murder or two which arises from cult clashes, but at least I never saw anyone being killed or a dead body. Thank God the community is a lot better now, things have changed from the way they used to be four years ago.
Another crime I have also witnessed is internet fraud. It's everywhere around me and I can name up to 10 fraudsters off the top of my head. I was even friends with some of them at one point, and even had one as a roommate! I used to live in fear that I might end up getting arrested with him when the hands of the law come knocking, but fortunately, that never happened and I have finally separated from him.
Internet fraud is very prevalent in my country and everyone knows one or two persons doing it but do they report them to the authorities? Off course not, everyone just accepts things the way they are and chooses to mind their business, and that's exactly what I'm doing. Worst case scenario; I might end up becoming the one arrested after calling the police and they collect bribes from the fraudsters, yes, it happens in my country.
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