ABSTRACT
Crime has been part of human existence since history. It is a delinquent aimed at breaching legal processes for personal or group interests. Poverty, imitation, desire to get rich, personality and other factors have been captured as reasons for indulgence in crime. Shame, arrests, incarceration and deaths are some of the rewarding implications of crime in any society. Over the years, the dominant theory for crime commission has been that it is a male venture. Given the physical and mental involvement in crime commission which is believed that women lack, men became dominant perpetrators while women are seen as victims. However, in contemporary times, this narrative has changed as women in global studies have shown that they are increasingly involved in crime. In Nigeria where various insecurities such as kidnapping, piracy, hostage taking, terrorism, banditry and ritualism abound, the menace of pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering in the Niger Delta has continued to dominate security discourse. The region is the livewire of Nigeria, accounting for over 70 percent of Nigeria’s revenue due to the abundance of crude oil. Yet, perennial poverty, environmental degradation, failed government promises and unemployment account for various insecurities ravaging the region. The rebellious militancy and pipeline vandalism are some of the outgrowths of perennial neglect, deprivation and frustration. It is believed that men are the perpetrators of these crimes while the women keep watch or act as auxiliaries. It is within this context that this study sought to explore the menace of women involvement in pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. It argued that like men, women are also perpetrators of pipeline vandalism. It delimited the study to Warri South and Warri South West Local and interviewed a combined total of 25 participants comprising 13 women pipeline vandals, 8 men pipeline vandalism and 4 security agents in the sampled four communities of Kantu, Ogidigben, Obodo and Egbokodo. Based on the various findings made, the study concluded that women are as active perpetrators as their male counterparts. However, while it can be agreed that their male counterparts dominate the difficult sector which is bursting of pipelines and cooking of crude oil, the women also approximate their responsibilities to those of their male counterparts through financing, scouting of potential buyers and inducing security agents for the continued smooth perpetration of the crime. The study therefore recommended that there is need for government’s intervention in the plight of women in the Niger Delta through proper monitoring of interventions so as to benefit the target women and their households. There is also the need for the oil companies to be responsible for their actions through devising ways and means of employing qualified graduates from these communities and States in the Niger Delta so as to disincentivize indulgence in crime. There is need to checkmate sabotage of government’s genuine intentions by security agents who shield criminals from arrests and prosecution.
