EFFECTS OF CROSS BORDER CRIMES ON SECURITY IN NIGERIA: A FOCUS ON SEME BORDER, 2007-2015

Abstract

Cross border crimes portrays the unlawful activities executed by various groups of people or individuals for their financial and economic gains. Despite the efforts of border security agencies which includes the Nigerian police, Customs service, Immigration service, and NSCDC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide security at the borders, Nigerian borders have remained porous generating various kinds of cross border or transborder criminal activities. This includes human trafficking, smuggling, drug trafficking, armed robbery, money laundering and illicit arms trafficking. The increase in the rise of cross border criminal activities, no doubt, undermines Nigeria’s security and has greatly affected Nigeria’s external relations. This study examines the cross border crimes in Nigeria and its attendant effects on the security of Nigeria, with special reference to Nigeria-Benin border. It goes further to throw more light on how smuggling, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering among others have caused the various security threats and problems to Nigeria. To successfully achieve the aim of this study, it obtains its data from primary and secondary sources. It also employs the use of qualitative method in its analysis. The paper adopts the rational choice theory to elucidate individual’s actions in connection to crime. One of the findings in this article reveals that the issue with cross border crimes has been the rise of corrupt activities in the country, mostly among security agents. The penetrable nature of the border is, also another problem that has contributed to the collapse of the security in the country. These issues need to be settled to thwart the rise of guerillawarfare from groups such as Boko Haram and possible internationalization of crimes and criminals from neighboring West African states. The article recommends, inter-alia, that, essential steps should be taken to enhance the security of the border. Such steps include among others, the amelioration of the well-being of security personnel.