AGING POPULATIONS AND CRIME VICTIMIZATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The aging population in Northern Nigeria, driven by increased life expectancy, faces heightened crime victimization risks amid socio-economic challenges, cultural norms, and security crises. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 2010–2023 to explore the forms, patterns, and impacts of victimization among older adults (aged 50 and above) in the region. Key forms of victimization include physical assault, financial exploitation, neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, and, less commonly, sexual abuse, occurring in urban, rural, displacement, and residential settings. Socio-cultural factors, such as communal living and patriarchal family systems, both protect and expose older adults to intra-household abuses like neglect and financial exploitation. Security challenges, including banditry and Boko Haram insurgency, exacerbate property crimes and violence, particularly in rural and displacement settings, while urban crime targets older adults’ perceived vulnerability. Infrastructure deficits, low police trust, and inadequate mental health services amplify victims’ economic, psychological, and health burdens. The absence of age-disaggregated data hinders targeted interventions, underscoring the need for comprehensive research. Recommendations include national surveys to collect age-specific data, community policing, expanded mental health access, police training on elder abuse, and campaigns to challenge cultural stigmas. These measures aim to enhance the safety and well-being of Northern Nigeria’s aging population in a context of growing demographic and security challenges.