Characteristics of Criminal Entrepreneurshipin Africa
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Date
2025
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The Faculty of Social Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi.
Abstract
Criminal entrepreneurship, a global phenomenon, involves organized illegal or unethicalbusiness activities aimed at maximizing profits. In Nigeria, a hub for drug trafficking, humansmuggling, cybercrime, and kidnapping, this phenomenon thrives due to poverty,unemployment, and weak institutions. This study examines notable cases like the OkoyeSyndicate, Hushpuppi’s cybercrime empire, and Evans the Kidnapper, highlightingtechnological sophistication, organized crime structures, and exploitation of vulnerabilities.The findings demonstrate the highly organized and technologically advanced nature of thesecriminal organizations, which are able to adapt and evolve their tactics to evade law enforcementefforts. The lavish lifestyles and conspicuous consumption of the criminal entrepreneurs notonly reinforce their perceived power and status, but also inadvertently provide valuable leadsfor investigations. The study therefore recommends that government should invest in specializedtraining, equipment, and intelligence-gathering resources across the various law enforcementagencies to enhance their ability to detect, investigate, and disrupt sophisticated criminalenterprises.
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Citation
Salau A. A, Isiaka, M., Hamzat I. B. and Adekanmi, J. O. (2025). Characteristics of Criminal Entrepreneurship in Africa: An Exploratory Study of the Nigerian Business Environment. Benue Journal of Social Sciences (BJSS), 11(1), 161 – 169.