INTRODUCTION
According to a well-known Latin Aphorism, it states, “definio termini est initum disputand” (the definition of terms is the beginning of argument). Therefore, information technology can be defined as follows
‘Information technology is a combination of two words “information and technology”. According to a Greek Etymology, it can be understood as the art or skill of passing on knowledge, experience, belief etc. However, according to the Microsoft Student 2009, information technology is a means of “processing and distribution of telecommunication and digital electronics.
Man is a being that lives and survive along side with other beings, within the context for this relational survival, man is always left at the mercy of communication, and all he does within this realm can always left interpreted by ways of information.
Thus, with the advent of many means of transmitting information, like the radio set, the television etc, mobile phones and the internet facilities, one can rightly say that we are in the age of information. The question arises, since some of our claim to knowledge can be reduced to external information. (What then is the place of information technology in management crime in Nigeria society?).
Almost all the sector of economy, banking, marketing, and so on are today imbricate through information technology has served in education communication and almost every human interaction, political, social, formal and informal are possible through information technology
1.1 Background of the study
Man of the 21st
century is in a computer age, the use of internet and all sort of e-service rule the everyday life of man. The contemporary Nigeria has been awarded with superior land marks of crime. For example, the Islamic fundamental Boko Haram, the Niger-Delta Militant, the Kidnappers which nearly devoured the city of Aba in Abia State, these perfect examples of violence heralded anguish and tremor in Nigeria citizens.No state in Nigeria is isolated or has not experience this native violence and criminal act. The people responsible for the ugly act operate with a lot of technological weapons which made their operation easier for them. Imagine the notorious kidnapper in Aba North in Abia State, Obioma (AKA Osisi Ka Nkwu) when killed in the jungle of Abia by the joint task force men of the army and recovered the following arms: 2GPMGS, 3RPG Bombers, 20 pieces of RPG, bombs, 93 empty magazines of AK 47, 150 liters filled with live ammunitions, 8 pieces, of AK 47 guns. Therefore, the use of Technology in investigations of crime is becoming more sophisticated too. For example, the police apply for install security television in some strategic areas in towns with that one can be able to monitor the movement of criminals and when a crime is been committed on just capture it. So when eventually you go through the whole scenario you will be able to see how offence was committed. These are typical example of the use of information technology on security (Dictation of crime).
There is also the one called DRONE also used at an area in form of satellite used to monitor the movement of criminals and crime commitment and of course they have sophisticated means of communication during their days. That is enforcement agent communicating with each other with sophisticated means.
Also, bank in Nigeria also make use of electronic doors that can dictate the presence of any metal objects. These are the effect of information technology to the security men on duty that there is a criminal indication. They are so many things we can do through the internet, quite a lot through the use of information technology.
To what extent then does information technology help in management of crime in Nigeria? Of what impact has information technology on security?
History of Aba North
Aba North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, its headquarters are in the town of Eziama Urata, 05020’N07019E/5.3330N7.3170E with an estimated population in 2009 of 6,446.
It has an area of 23 km2 and a population of 107,4888 at the 2006 census. The postal code is 450.
Aba is a city and in the southeast of Nigeria and the main trading center in Abia State. Upon the creation of Abia State in 1991, Aba was divided into two local government area namely; Aba South and Aba North. Aba south is the main city center and the heart beat of Abia State, south-east Nigeria. It is located on the Aba River. Aba is made up of many villages such as; Umuokoji Aba, Eziukwu-Abam Obuda-Aba, Aba Ukwu and other villages from Ohazu merged due to administrative convenience. Aba was established by the Ngwa clan of Igbo people of Nigeria as a market town and then later a military post was placed there by the British colonial administration in 1901. It lies along the west bank of the Aba River, and is at the intersection of roads leading to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot Abasi. The city became a collecting point for agricultural products following the British made railway running through it to Port Harcourt. Aba is a major urban settlement and commercial center in a region that is surrounded by small villages and towns. The indigenous people of Aba are the Ngwa. Aba is well known for its craftsmen. As of 2004 Aba had an estimated population of 1,020,900.
Aba as a City is made up of many villages namely; Umuokpoji-Aba, Eziukwu-Aba, Obuda-Aba and Aba-Ukwu but the villages in Ohazu have been merged with Aba so as to achieve administrative convenience. Hence the owners of Aba are often referred to as Aba la Ohazu indigenes. It eventually became an administrative center of Britian’s colonial government. Aba has been a major commercial center since it became part of the old Eastern region.
The Aro Expedition, which was part of a larger military plan to quell anti-colonial sentiment in the region, took place in the area of Aba during 1901 and 1902. During this military action, the British easily beat the native Aro people with an unknown number (presumed to be heavy) of casualties. In 1901, the British founded a military post in Aba and in 1915, a railroad was constructed to link it to Port Harcourt, which transported agricultural goods such as palm oil and palm kernels. In 1929 Aba was the site of a revolt by Igbo women, historically known as “The Aba Women’s Riot” a protest of the colonial taxation policy. The riot started first as a peaceful protest against the initial census of women in the region, and subsequent assumed taxation of the women based upon rumor. The protests spread throughout the palm oil belt, but remained peaceful until a pregnant woman was knocked over during a “scuffle”, and the lady losing her child. The news of this “act of abomination” spread rapidly and violent reactions ensued. After more deaths, some accidental, some not, occurred, a mass of 10,000 women marched on Aba. Sources dispute the numbers of dead, with 55 to over 100 being reported. During the height of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, the state capital of Biafra was moved to Umuahia from Enugu. Aba was devastated during the Biafran War. By the 1930s, Aba was becoming a large urban community with an established industrial complex.
Aba is the home of many distinguished families such as the popular Emejiaka Egbu family of Aba la Ohazu, Ogbonna family of Eziukwu-Aba, the prestigious Ichita family of Umuokpoji-Aba, the Omenihu family of Aba-Ukwu, the Ugwuzor family Umuokpoji Aba, the Ukeagbu family of Aba-Ukwu and so forth.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Because of the sophisticated nature of crime in Nigeria society, the researcher decided to focus the study on:
– The attitude of our executive police in fighting crime
– The possible causes of crime in the society
– Crime has become an impediment to national development
– The role of information technology in bringing crime to an end
1.3 Objective of the study
The objective of this study is:
– To ascertain how information technology play a role in management of c rime
– The study is also aimed at knowing how information technology can foster national peace.
– Again, this study is meant to really show other ways by which crime can be managed in Nigeria society.
1.4 Research Questions
In conducting this research work, the researcher formatted the following questions which will be answer at the end of this research work. They are:
– Does information technology play any role in management of crime?
– How does information technology foster national peace?
– How do the people of Aba respond to information technology?
– How effective is information technology in Aba Metropolis?
– What other ways can crime be managed in Aba Metropolis?
1.5 Scope of the study
Due to the economic recession which the country is facing, the researcher has limited the scope of study to a limited number in terms of its geographical spread.
1.6 Significance of study
Having considered the incessant occurrence of domestic violence in Nigeria societies and how ugly it has permitted the face of Nigeria, i.e in the international level, therefore, the importance of this study is to shed light on this crimes and to the effect of information technology as a tool for managing this crime in order to restore peace, stability and transpiration in the government sector.
In this case of this study, it is imperative to note that in Nigeria, officials are not only corrupt, rather corruption has become officials. It has become the other of the day, in fact, it may not be too far from the truth if one says that many Nigerians are corrupt. This corrupt attitude of Nigerians both the leaders and lead has resulted into impeccable crime which might ruin Nigeria in no distant time. Consequentially to theses ugly trends such study as this will provide versatile knowledge with the purpose of understanding how information technology will be used as a tool to curtail or ameliorate this societal misdemeanor.
1.7 Definition of Terms
According to a well known latin Aphorism, it states, “define termini est initum disputandi” (The definition of terms is the beginning of argument). So we briefly define some term so as to known the limit of this exercise.
Following from the above introduction, a vivid question runs into our mind, what is the meaning of information technology?
Information technology: It is the combination of two words “information and Technology”. According to Greek Etymology, it can be understood as the art or skill of passing on knowledge, experience and belief etc. however, according to the Microsoft student 2009, information technology is a means of “Processing and distribution of data using computer hardware, telecommunication and digital electronics but literally, information technology is the technology used to store, manipulate, distribute or to create vital information.