An Empirical Analysis of Operation Apkakwu in Fighting Violent Crimes in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Violent crimes in Nigeria and other parts of the world have been on the increase. To curb the increase of violent crimes, the Cross State Government has adopted various measure, among which is Operation Apkakwu. The paper is therefore an empirical analysis of operation Apkakwu in Fighting Violent Crimes in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State. Akpakwu in Bete dialect of the Obudu people of Northern Cross River refers to a spiky-stingy plant commonly known as velvet beans or devil’s beans or like the Yoruba people of western Nigeria would call it, werepe. The study employed structural functional theory as its theoretical framework. The theory emphasizes the importance of the various segments of the society that act upon the system and on which government policies seek to address or in trying to put in check. This study adopted ex-post fact and descriptive survey designs. Ex-post fact is a type of design suitable for an investigation for which the phenomena being investigated has already occurred. Similarly, descriptive survey research design was adopted, oriented towards determining the status of a great phenomenon rather than towards the isolation of causative factor. The statistical tool used in this study was the Simple Linear Regression Analysis. Information was gathered and findings were discussed using primary data which were majorly collated with the aid of questionnaire. The study found that the Operation Akpakwu has significantly reduced violent crimes in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria. Among other things, it was recommended that the current security outfit code-named “Operation Okwok” should be given the necessary supports and funding to enable it outshine the performance of Operation Akpakwu which activities are still fresh in the memories of all the Calabar residents.