A non-governmental organization in Nigeria, Lawyers Alert, has released a report on petty offence violations in the country in which disobedience to constituted authority accounts for 25 percent of incidents of petty offences

At a press conference, the Lawyers Alert’s Director, Legal, Barrister Bamidele Jacobs, said the report covers the reporting period from October 2022 to September 2023.

Lawyers Alert said government and elected officials are categorised as the constituted authority in the country and that intolerance towards diverse opinions by citizens led to arrests and molestations based on social media and traditional media content.

The report indicated that wandering and loitering took 16 percent of petty offence due to the issue of homelessness in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos, which serves as a reflection of the dire economic situation faced by the impoverished.

Rogue and vagabond and sexual minorities were tied for the third most common violations, each accounting for 11 percent of reported incidents.

This finding sheds light on the discrimination and marginalization faced by these vulnerable populations within society.

Alms Seeking ranked fourth in the report, constituting 10 percent of the petty offences recorded during the reporting period. The practice of alms seeking highlights the socio-economic inequalities prevalent in the country.

Commercial Sex Work ranked fifth in the report, accounting for seven percent of the violations. This statistic points towards the challenges faced by individuals engaged in this trade and emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches in addressing their rights and protection.

Furthermore, hawking and compulsory wearing of nose masks were reported at five and four percent respectively. These infractions demonstrate the challenges faced during and post-COVID lockdown period. However, the lifting of the lockdown measures has understandably led to a reduction in COVID-19 related petty offences

Lawyers Alert “urges all stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organizations and community leaders to take cognizance of these development and uphold human rights by ensuring fair treatment and protection of all individuals, regardless of their social or economic status.

“Through this report, we hope to raise awareness and encourage meaningful dialogue among stakeholders. By addressing these petty offences and overarching societal challenges, together we can build a more equitable and just society,” Jacobs noted.

Jacobs said the full report, including detailed analysis and recommendations could be accessed on the Lawyers Alert website.