Al-Hikmah University Journal

This study examined the concept of crime in Northern Nigeria using depictions in literature

emerging from Northern Nigeria and also through a criminological study of data on crime

obtained from the region. The study involved a critical analysis of the points of convergence

and divergence of the depiction of crime in Abubaker Ibrahim's Season of Crimson Blossoms

and data on crime collected from 321 respondents using questionnaires to explore crime in

terms of its causatives, process, impacts, and measures for managing it. The central question

that guided this research was: how do people in Northern Nigeria understand crime, its

causes, and possible solutions to preventing it? Thus, this study was both qualitative and

quantitative. From the thematic analysis of the selected novel and the findings from the

analysed data, the study discovered that crime is a social issue that plaques Northern Nigeria.

In addition, the perpetration of crime is a violation of the cultural norms in Northern Nigeria,

which is the Hausa culture influenced by Islamic practices. Among other causes, low level of

formal education is the major cause of crime in the region. While it does not necessarily mean

that formally educated persons do not engage in crime, the proclivity is lower among persons

who have acquired formal education compared to those who have not. This study, based on

the findings, maintains that there is a need for attainment of higher levels of education to

enhance the development of thinking which deepens knowledge, furthers personality,

changes attitudes and trains special skills. It is such a development that would attenuate

crimes in the study area.