The Interface between Crime and Disease: A History of Lunacy Management in Colonial Lagos,1907–1954

Résumé

Lunacy management in colonial Lagos was largely situated within the contexts of crime and disease. This was in spite of the enactment of the Lunacy Ordinance of 1916 which stipulated the processes and legal framework for the management of lunacy, whether in the aspect of crime or as a disease. However, a major challenge during the period, which apparently became a controversial issue, in the management of the lunatic vagrants, was the question as to whether these lunatics were “criminals” or merely “sick people.” The theory of social inclusion is adopted in this paper to illuminate the extent to which services were provided for the mentally ill. Using the qualitative historical methodology, which involves the evaluation and presentation of data derived from both primary and secondary sources, this study examines the early colonial developments, legal enactments and implementation, patients and confinement in Lunatic Asylum, and the nature of the management of “criminals” or “lunatics.” It shows that most lunatics who have been tagged civil or criminals were mainly kept in the prisons. It further notes that the nature of the management of lunatics during the period was that of confinement or custodial care. It concludes that in spite of the enactment of 1916, little was done towards the improvement of services for both criminal and civil lunatics. Inevitably, in 1954, the Aro Mental Hospital, Abeokuta, was established to complement that of Lagos and those already existing in the country to help cater for lunatics with violent and non-violent dispositions.