Pragmatic strategies in the crime narratives of accused rapists in Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Existing linguistic studies in Nigeria have focused on investigator’s communicative acts in coercive investigative discourse, with little attention given to non-coercive investigative discourse involving accused rapists (ARs) in correctional centres. This study addresses this gap by analysing the pragmatic strategies ARs employ in crime narratives within Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria to offer insights into evidential cues that could impact justice administration. Using Jacob Mey’s Pragmatic Acts Theory as framework, the study adopts descriptive design and purposive sampling to select thirty-nine ARs for interviews. Findings revealed that the ARs deployed identity-framing, identity-reframing, attention-seeking, information-controlling, crime-relabelling and attention diversion strategies to influence investigator’s interpretation. The involvement of minors in the rape cases underscores the severity of the crime and the need for effective justice mechanisms. Additionally, cultural assumptions about intimacy and relationships, driven by patriarchal norms and misconceptions about consent, significantly influence crime narratives. Recognising these contexts is crucial to preventing justice perversion and enhancing forensic discourse in Nigeria.

Keywords

• Agodi Custodial Centre
• Crime narratives
• Accused rapist
• Pragmatic strategies
• Investigative discourse