Introduction

Upon arriving at the small village of Loko-Atoui, not far from the town of Dogba in southern Benin, the visitor notices a large statue erected by the villagers in the middle of the settlement, representing a combatant, complete with cartridge belts, depicted partly as a kind of Rambo, partly as an African hunter. The monument depicts ‘Colonel Dévi’, a once-famous vigilante leader and still a local hero. When asked about him, villagers are usually eager to talk at length about his deeds and compete with each other in praising him. The man himself actually lives opposite the statue, in the only two-storey building in the village, which is large enough to house himself and various wives and children; several of his cars are parked at the entrance. In person, Dévi appears quite self-confident and relaxed; it is difficult to imagine that he was once notorious throughout southern Benin. He still justifies his former activities, even though officially he has permanently renounced his vigilante career. He seems a proud but angry old man who points out that crime rates in the region are once again rising, and that decisive action of some kind is needed to combat them.