We all seem to forget that the late 90s and early 2000s saw extreme violence in many Nigerian universities especially in southern Nigeria.

UNILAG, LASU, EKPOMA, ABRAKA, OKO, EBSU, IMSU, ESUT, ABSU, UNIPORT, RSU, UNICAL. ETC.

As at 1999 ,most Nigerian graduates had no prospects of landing any meaningful jobs .
Many of these folks were “bammed”.

Luckily or unluckily, the return to civil rule opened the initial door for folks to foray into politics via thuggery. Eventually the new godfathers promoted many into major players in the polity. That was the case in Enugu and Lagos, etc
So politics absorbed some.

Where politics created opportunity to a handful, it also created more problems ,envy , inordinate ambitions and scramble for scarce political posts .This led to guys trying to outdo themselves in thug viciousness during elections resulting in massive electoral violence.

By mid 2000, Internet scam became more acceptable and many folks enlisted why they waited for the never coming jobs .
Many who made some money also began to venture abroad ,Europe, Asia, North Africa, everywhere and anywhere.
The drug routes became also open and the Nigerians with student visas quickly became willing birds flying powders into Asia and EU.

As at today ,up to 40% of guys leave the country yearly .Up to 60% of those at home took advantage of the improved internet and IT knowledge to provide constant back up to the expanding Nigerian international Internet scam syndicate .
With more money ,guys began to invest heavily in drugs and other black markets .

The ladies were not left out. Many girls ventured into sex exportation and petty drug flying .A few joined the Internet scam.
However, with the amount of money being flown back into the country by our guys and the extreme willingness to squander it,our girls didn’t have to travel to Europe or Asia, sex trading began to boom back home.
One can hazard a guess that up to 40% if not more of our girls in higher institutions are selling.

While America can boast that about 10% of the country’s income are from organized crime ,Nigeria could pride up to 40% directly and indirectly.
The criminal income is responsible for the boom in real estate in Lagos, Enugu, Asaba ,Owerri, etc

Many importers hide behind the importation of legitimate goods to carry out illicit trades .

No doubt ,it was the glamorization of ill gotten wealth by the politicians that shifted our value system, placing much premium on wealth how ever it is gotten and engendering a rat race for money .

The churches and mosques are not left out ,they provide the spiritual support and justification for folks, hence guilt became abolished totally.

Musicians like Oliver De Coque ,Kwam 1 ,Morocco etc who praise sing ill millionaires laundered images and glamorized graft and theft .

The security agencies especially the police and lately EFCC now provide both cover and arbitration for protection and amicable settlements in times of disputes among brothers in crime .

Guys are now smiling. Most have choice cars and houses and other possessions courtesy of crime. The economy in booming. Government can claim lower unemployment rates ,we know .
The initial surge in violent crimes around South East ,south south and south west states have calmed down as guys have found much less risky ways of making much more money . Every one is happy.

Recently men are also beginning to seek for power ,investing the sleaze in politics and patronizing governments. The partnership is solid .
It is a win win situation though.

Imagine that thousands of these men who had the training and mind had spilt into the hopeless Nigerian society without this leeway? Somalia would have been a child’s play!

Indeed ,Crime has saved Nigeria from violent Crimes.

Ozo N.Mcginger Ibeneme MBBS

Elengum Orio
Omenikorobia

http://easternreporter.com/2018/03/11/crime-saved-nigeria-vicious-crime/

Writers opinion.

All I know is that Nigerians especially parts of the south don't wait on the government to better their lots. They take the bull by the horns and create the life they want.