Spatial Pattern of Crime in Nigerian Traditional City: The Ile-Ife Experience

Abstract

This study identified the prevalence and spatial occurrence of criminal activities in Ile-Ife. Data were obtained through the stratification of the study area into the traditional town centre, middle income, high income and post crisis residential areas. Sample was selected using systematic sampling. The study established that residents’ socio-economic attributes varied significantly. Rate of occurrence of crime measured through an index tagged Crime Rate of Occurrence Index (CROI) showed that store breaking with CROI of 3.44 was the most prevalent crime in the traditional town centre. House breaking was the most prevalent crime in the middle income (CROI=4.24) as well as the high income (CROI=3.96) residential areas. With an index of 3.34, attempted rape was perceived to be the major challenge in post crisis residential area. Pearson Product Momentum Correlation coefficient revealed that store breaking had high positive correlation with average monthly income (r=0.765, p<.01), education background (r=0.643, p<.01) and occupation of the residents (r=0.665, p<.01). The study concluded that prevalent crime differ significantly in their rate of occurrence in the different residential zones as reflected by the socio-economic characteristics of the residents and that the approach to make residents feel more secured should be guided by those variation.