An Evaluation Of Trends In Criminal Activities In Southeast Region (2015-2021)

An Evaluation Of Trends In Criminal Activities In Southeast Region (2015-2021)
Abstract
This study investigates an evaluation of trends in criminal activities in Southeast Region (2015-2021)There is a noticeable increment in the rate of criminal attacks on transport facilities globally and some evidences of such abound in Nigeria, a most worrisome trend is that most criminals are increasingly finding passengers veritable targets for criminal acts. In this study, the temporal pattern of crime incidences across five selected bus stops and the variables that may likely determine the chances of becoming crime victims in Ibadan were analyzed. Crime records for six years (2003-2008) were statistically and descriptively analyzed alongside primary data obtained through a questionnaire survey of 250 respondents, who were frequent users of these terminals. The result validated the established findings that frequencies and concentration of criminal acts usually significantly differs temporally and spatially. It was equally revealed that criminals seemingly target the more vulnerable groups as victims as the females (of all age groups) bore the brunt of most attacks. It is also discernible from the study that site selection processes for the choice of bus stop within the public transit system is subjective and can aid their emergence as crime ‘hot spots’.
Table of Content
- Title Page
- Certification
- Dedication
- Acknowledgement
- Table of Content
- List of Tables
- Abstract
Chapter One:
Introduction
- 1.1 Background of the Study
- 1.2 Statement of the Problem
- 1.3 Objective of the Study
- 1.4 Research Questions
- 1.5 Significance of the Study
- 1.6 Scope of the Study
- 1.7 Limitation of the Study
- 1.8 Definition of Terms
- 1.9 Organization of the Study
Chapter Two:
Review of Literature
- 2.1 Conceptual Framework
- 2.2 Theoretical Framework
- 2.3 Empirical Review
Chapter Three:
Research Methodology
- 3.1 Research Design
- 3.2 Population of the Study
- 3.3 Sample Size Determination
- 3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
- 3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
- 3.6 Method of Data Collection
- 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
- 3.8 Validity of the Study
- 3.9 Reliability of the Study
- 3.10 Ethical Consideration
Chapter Four:
Data Presentation and Analysis
- 4.1 Data Presentation
- 4.2 Analysis of Data
- 4.3 Answering Research Questions
- 4.4 Discussion of Findings
Chapter Five:
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
- 5.1 Summary
- 5.2 Conclusion
- 5.3 Recommendation
- References
- APPENDIX
- QUESTIONNAIRE
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
There has been a noticeable upsurge in the incidences of urban crime in most less developed countries particularly in the last two decades [1, 2], from India sub-Continent to sub-Saharan Africa, from Medellin to Mexico City; Crime rate is assuming a worldwide relational index with urbanization [1, 3, 4]. In recent years research findings revealed that high levels of inequality in cities has led to negative social, economic and political consequences that have a destabilizing impact on societies, leading to emergence of high level of social vices and crime in most major cities.
Cities are becoming more unequal in a number of ways. Cities in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean have some of the highest levels of income inequality in the world, and such inequality is increasing and becoming entrenched [5]. Transport facilities and infrastructures due to their ubiquitous nature are rapidly gaining ground as platform for all manner of crime within the urban space [3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9]. The 2012 death of a female medical student who was gang-raped in a transit bus in India is one of the most recent of such incidents [10].
Most urban planners are keenly aware of the problem of urban crime especially as it concerns the vulnerable groups, which have been identified by the UN to include, the aged, women, people with physical challenges, children and migrants [5]. For example a recent report estimated that 60 per cent of all urban dwellers in developing countries have been crime victims with rates of at least 70 per cent in parts of Latin America and Africa [2]. Amongst other salient factors, it has been identified that the concern about personal security on transport infrastructure in cities is capable of leading to social exclusion, impeding accessibilities to job, health, education, and social integration and bonding among the residents [4, 11].
The impact of crime on the general welfare of urban dwellers can be profound, often, the fear of crime impacts the most mundane personal decisions on movement, such as whether to walk down a given street or drive through a particular neighborhood, or even use a public transit terminal etc. [12, 13]. Accessing and utilizing public transport infrastructure in most developing societies is germane, especially to low income earners, (women, school children, new migrants and the aged). Ironically, these categories of users equally form the most vulnerable groups that have been, identified as being the most likely victims of criminals using public transport infrastructures as a platform to perform their nefarious activities [3, 13, 14].
It is a truism that in cities across most developing societies the risk to lives and properties are becoming regular features on transport routes and terminals. Routine trips using public transit infrastructure can result in being mugged, robbed, or raped [10, 15]. In Ibadan city in Nigeria, one of the public transport facilities that have become a veritable platform for criminal elements to perpetuate their ignoble acts is the public bus stops [4, 13].
The design of public transit terminals/bus stops in Ibadan city is mainly as a point of boarding and disembarking of passengers both on intra- and inter- city trips. Though ancillary services like auto repair shops and food stores are also provided at these bus stops, it remains that their major function is providing a central, safe and generally convenient point for passengers who prefers boarding commercial buses, which are the major modal type of intra- and inter- city transport available [13].
The locations of these bus stops are also part of the complex arrangement of the public transit system. In 1984 specific locations within the city were delineated as bus stops/terminals [16]. These were Agodi-Gate, Dugbe, Beere, Molete and Challenge bus stops. Their positioning was part of the measures to improve the flow of traffic and was meant to discourage the indiscriminate picking and dropping of commuters both on intra-city and inter-city routes. It is observable that most of these parks and terminals that were initially sited at the city outskirts are now part of the built up areas [16], Observed that “it is difficult to secure well defined areas for the construction of lay-bys to serve as stops for buses” [4]. Discovered that in recent years developers have encroached into lands designated mostly as parks in Ibadan. The resultant effects are seedier environment which are acting as breeding ground for criminal activities both within and around such parks.
Apart from the problem of space, most parks in Ibadan do not enjoy electricity supply in the evening and night, and unfortunately commercial buses runs till late hours in the night (10pm). Studies have shown that crime rates are disproportionately high on the public transit system at evenings when criminals hide in darkness to perpetuate their nefarious acts [3, 9, 14]. An empirical research [7] indicates that environmental attributes and site conditions at bus stops do have an impact on crime levels. This finding is in sync with similar trends obtainable in cities in developed and developing countries [3, 4, 8, 17]. Although there are growing concern on the burgeoning problem of crime on road transport terminals and route networks in Nigeria literature [13, 15, 18, 19], it is noticeable that a general paucity of information and statistics of this malaise still exists.
Therefore, the need to have reliable information about the nature of prevalent crimes and trend analysis of such crimes in public transit terminals in Ibadan can not be over emphasized. It is of equal importance to examine the pattern of victims‟ choices of these criminal activities, as previous scholarly works suggested that criminal operates their acts based on pre-conceived belief of weaknesses [3, 13, 14, 20].
The emergence of crime as one of the problem of urbanization in Nigeria is closely related to the history of urbanization in the country, evidences indicated that cities existed in Nigeria long before the contact with the Europeans [21].There has been a growing concern among scholars on the impact of crime among the vulnerable groups in cities in most developing societies, especially as it affects their accessing public utilities and safety concerns of such users [5, 10, 13, 15]. [1]whileanalyzing the areal differentiation in spatial distribution of homicide in Sao Paolo city in Brazil opined that „In Sao Paulo’s Morumbineighborhood, its poverty-stricken residents are 18 times more likely to be murdered than their fellow citizens in the more prosperous and less sharply stratified Jardim Paulista district‟ [1].
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It is fairly well documented that large proportions of urban populations are socially and economically excluded. These classes of urban dwellers are often disadvantaged because access to jobs, housing, health, education, and transportation and communication facilities are negatively skewed against them. These categories of urban residents include increasing populations of women, children and young people, growing up in environment that is capable of negatively impinging on their safety and putting their future at great risk. Migrants and refugees from cultures and ethnic backgrounds very different from those of their new urban neighbours are recognized to be equally at risks of being among these classes of urban dwellers [1, 5, 23].
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the trends in criminal activities in Southeast Region (2015-2021). Specific objectives include to:
- Investigate the level of criminal attacks across motor parks in the southeast region.
- 2. Evaluate the factors responsible for levels level in the southeast region.
- 3. Suggest possible solutions to criminal attacks in the southeast region.
1.4 Research Questions
- What is the level of criminal attacks across motor parks in the southeast region?
- What are the factors responsible for crime levels in the southeast region?
- What are the possible solutions to criminal attacks in the southeast region?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is highly significant to students and scholars in management sciences, social sciences, education as well as every other field of study. This is attributable to the fact that the subject matter of this study involves crime and criminality. The findings of this study would serve as a guide towards ensuring safety and being security conscious, especially in the southeast region of Nigeria. Stakeholders in the security sector would find this study very useful, on the part of the Nigerian government, the findings of this study would help provide direction for proper security policy implementation.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study covers an evaluation of trends in criminal activities in Southeast Region (2015-2021). Other components of this study include: the level of criminal attacks across motor parks in the southeast region, the factors responsible for crime levels in the southeast region and the possible solutions to criminal attacks in the southeast region.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
This study was constrained by some factors. Firstly, the time frame allocated for the completion of this study was not enough for the researcher to extensively carry out research based on the theme of this research work. On the other hand, the research participants were not willing to participate in responding to the administered questionnaire of this study. Also, the required materials like journals and articles needed for the proper completion of this study were not readily available online and offline. All these constraint put together, ultimately determined the extent to which the researcher was able to go in this study.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Crime
Crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority.[1] The term crime does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,[2] though statutory definitions have been provided for certain purposes.[3] The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law; in other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law.[2] One proposed definition is that a crime or offence (or criminal offence) is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community, society, or the state (“a public wrong”). Such acts are forbidden and punishable by law.[1][4]
The notion that acts such as murder, rape, and theft are to be prohibited exists worldwide.[5] What precisely is a criminal offence is defined by the criminal law of each relevant jurisdiction. While many have a catalogue of crimes called the criminal code, in some common law nations no such comprehensive statute exists.
Gambling:
The wagering of something of value (“the stakes”) on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three elements to be present: consideration (an amount wagered), risk (chance), and a prize.[1] The outcome of the wager is often immediate, such as a single roll of dice, a spin of a roulette wheel, or a horse crossing the finish line, but longer time frames are also common, allowing wagers on the outcome of a future sports contest or even an entire sports season.
The term “gaming”[2] in this context typically refers to instances in which the activity has been specifically permitted by law. The two words are not mutually exclusive; i.e., a “gaming” company offers (legal) “gambling” activities to the public[3] and may be regulated by one of many gaming control boards, for example, the Nevada Gaming Control Board. However, this distinction is not universally observed in the English-speaking world. For instance, in the United Kingdom, the regulator of gambling activities is called the Gambling Commission (not the Gaming Commission).[4] The word gaming is used more frequently since the rise of computer and video games to describe activities that do not necessarily involve wagering, especially online gaming, with the new usage still not having displaced the old usage as the primary definition in common dictionaries. “Gaming” has also been used to circumvent laws against “gambling”. The media and others have used one term or the other to frame conversations around the subjects, resulting in a shift of perceptions among their audiences.
Gambling
Gambling is also a major international commercial activity, with the legal gambling market totaling an estimated $335 billion in 2009. In other forms, gambling can be conducted with materials that have a value, but are not real money. For example, players of marbles games might wager marbles, and likewise games of Pogs or Magic: The Gathering can be played with the collectible game pieces (respectively, small discs and trading cards) as stakes, resulting in a meta-game regarding the value of a player’s collection of pieces.
Robbery:
The crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear; that is, it is a larceny or theft accomplished by an assault. Precise definitions of the offence may vary between jurisdictions. Robbery is differentiated from other forms of theft (such as burglary, shoplifting, pickpocketing, or car theft) by its inherently violent nature (a violent crime); whereas many lesser forms of theft are punished as misdemeanors, robbery is always a felony in jurisdictions that distinguish between the two. Theft :the act of taking another person’s property or services without that person’s permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word theft is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as larceny, robbery,embezzlement, extortion, blackmail, or receiving stolen property.[2] In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be synonymous with larceny,[4][5] while in others, theft is defined more narrowly. Someone who carries out an act of theft may be described as a “thief” (PL: thieves).
1.9 Organization of the Study
This research work is categorized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.
- Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), background to the study, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms.
- Chapter two encompasses the conceptual review theoretical review and empirical reviews on which the study is based.
- Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
- Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
- Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
Chapter Five
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Summary
The study showed that there was homogeneity in the nature of the crime type prevalent across the parks. All the crime types reported across were basically the same, though the incidences of their occurrence differed. It was equally discovered that there was a temporal dimension in the occurrences of crime in these bus stops, as the study revealed that the risks of attack were higher in the last quarter of the year (between September and December), and at night than at any other time. This is consistent with findings from previous studies that established a strong link between crime occurrence and the time factor.
The study also revealed that the risks of passengers becoming a crime victim were heightened as a female. Moreover it was equally apparent that larger proportion of the victimized population claimed they have been victims of attack of same crime type more than once. It is imperative to evolve the combination of „home grown‟ and industry based best practices from other clime;[for example changing the design and construction of these parks to help in „designing crime out‟, government should allow public /private/ participation (PPP) in the construction and management of these facilities, and it is equally important to improve security surveillance in and around these parks.
5.2 Conclusion
This study was focused on the evaluation of trends in criminal activities in the southeast region (2015-2021). It was revealed that there were temporal dimensions in the pattern of the occurrence of crime. The main aim was to identify some distinctive temporal pattern of crime occurrence in the selected motor parks in Ibadan and to verify if there was a significant temporal variation in the incidence of each crime type across the five parks over time, from 2015-2021 (a year – by – year basis. The socio-demographic factors associated with the incidences of these crimes were also studied.
5.3 Recommendation
A more recent view on the design, utility and management of public infrastructure in the urban space is, the community friendly approach. The approach advocated that, Planners can address family needs in comprehensive plans, site plan and zoning regulations, housing, transportation, schools child care, and funding for community services‟ by getting the community for whom the infrastructure is being planned actively engaged from the very start. Youth unemployment has been adduced as one of the leading causes of crime in developing economies it is therefore needful to create enabling environment for business growth and job creation to reduce the unemployment rate.


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