MURDER INVESTIGATION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE APPLICATION

Autori

  • Olusoga Tasiru Shittu PhD Student, Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • Geshina Ayu Mat Saat Senior Lecturer, Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v9i6.1688

Parole chiave:

criminal justice, forensic science, murder investigation, policing, suspect profiling

Abstract

This study presents a systematic review of studies related to murder and criminal investigation, policing, and implications for forensic science application in Nigeria. A literature search was done in the English language, using primary and secondary keywords; such as murder investigation, forensic science, policing, criminal investigation, standard operating procedures guiding murder investigation, and application of forensic science in Nigeria. Four academic databases selected for the study were: SAGE Online, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria earmarked for the study, 16 selected online published materials published between 2012 and 2022 met the predetermined criteria. These articles are either surveys, reviews, case studies, expert opinion materials, or theoretical articles. Central to the findings of these articles is that the application of forensic science in murder investigations in Nigeria is still suboptimal, accounting for lots of cold and unresolved murder cases across the country. In addition, there are other issues such as inadequate legislation governing forensic science application in Nigeria, lack of forensic skills and poor capacity development of Nigerian police, and non-adherence to forensic validated procedures during murder investigations. Gaps identified from these studies suggest a need for research focusing on the importance of suspect forensic profiling, a criminal investigative tool that can aid in narrowing down the suspect pool which has become a perennial problem in Nigeria's justice system as evidenced by the rising number of murder suspects across the country’s penitentiaries. This would make murder investigation more effective and efficient for criminal justice experts.

 

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Biografie autore

  • Olusoga Tasiru Shittu, PhD Student, Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Olusoga Tasiru Shittu, is an academic member of the Department of Sociology/Criminology at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil-Kano, Nigeria. He obtained a B.Sc degree in Sociology & Anthropology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, an M.Sc in Organisational Behaviour from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, M.Sc in Sociology (Criminology) from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. He is currently a PhD fellow at the Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. His area of research spans through suspect forensic profiling in murder investigations, policing, penology and behavioural science. He is a member of various national and international associations such as the National Association of Sociology & Anthropology, the National Association of Criminologists and Security Practitioners in Nigeria, International Society of Criminology among others. He has published severally in both local and international journal outlets.

  • Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, Senior Lecturer, Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, Associate Professor, obtained her BHsc in Psychology from International Islamic Universiti Malaysia, M.Sc. in Applied Criminology from the University of Leicester, UK, and a PhD in Criminology from Loughborough University, UK. She lectures at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in the Forensic Science Programme. She has published seven books, over 40 research articles, and 80 media-related materials. Geshina conducts researches and assists the Malaysian Royal Police, the Prison Department of Malaysia and other government agencies. She is a permanent voluntary committee member of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF).

Riferimenti bibliografici

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Pubblicato

2024-04-20

Fascicolo

V. 9 N. 6 (2024)

Sezione

Articles