Area Boys
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Area Boys (also known as Agberos)[1] are a loosely-organized gang of street children and teenagers, comprised mostly of males (but with a few females) who roam the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, extorting money from passers-by. They also perform "odd jobs" in return for compensation.[2]
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[edit] Tactics
The tactics of the group, which is estimated to number in the thousands, are to surround pedestrians, drivers, and passengers in vehicles and force them to pay before letting them go. The Area Boys have existed since the early 1980s.[2]
According to a 2002 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime study,
"The coercive and persuasive requests, petty crimes and sometimes-violent offences by the Area Boys to acquire resources, generally cash in the urban main business and crowded areas, has disturbed the civil society and defied the civic authority..."
[edit] Incidents involving Area Boys
During the Hausa-Yoruba riots in Lagos in 2000, where thousands of Hausa fled to military barracks and nearly 100 people died, Area Boys took advantage of the chaos and joined in the mayhem, throwing glass and bottles at shops.[3]
In May 2005, after a Nigerian soldier was assaulted and stabbed by several Area Boys he had tried to prevent from taking money from a bus driver (bus drivers are favored targets of the gang),[1] the military began a crackdown against the group. Following this, the group's activity was noted to be in decline.[2] However, at the Mile 12 Market, (also in Lagos), soldiers were reported to work hand in hand with gang members as late as 2004.[4]
[edit] Area boys elsewhere in Nigeria
- Petty criminals have been labeled as "area boys" in Ibadan, where they control informal markets[5] and are used to advance political causes.[6]
- In the Yankari National Park in Bauchi State, baboons have been referred to as "area boys" because of their troublesome behavior.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ngwobo, Chris (July 2004). Area Boys: Menace to Society. This Presnt House. Freedom Hall. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ a b c IRIN (2005-07-14). Area Boys -- a growing menace on the streets of Lagos. NEWSfromAFRICA. Koinonia International. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Lagos calm after city centre riots. BBC Online. BBC (2000-10-18). Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Adingupu, Charles (2004-07-22). At Mile 12, Soldiers, Area Boys Seize Traffic Control. Online Nigeria. Devace Nigeria. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Abiola, Tope; Rotimi Omole (2007-01-25). 6 killed in Ibadan fracas. Nigerian Tribune. African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Kay, Soyemi (2007-02-05). The Joker in the Pack. Nigeriaworld.com. Nigeriaworld. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Ojo-Lanre, Wale. Escape to Yankari Game Reserve Nigeria's Garden of Eden. Nigerian Tribune. African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc. Retrieved on 2006-03-03.
