Examine spatial pattern of crime in Minna and envinrons, Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The rapid urbanization of Minna and environs has created numerous social problems, among which is crime that became a common phenomenon in urban areas in both developed and developing nations. Ultimately, rapid growth in urbanization in the study areas had a direct relationship with the increase in crime as the rate of unemployment had been on the increase, high cost of living coupled with housing problem (homelessness) and these in turn led to all sorts of urban problems crime inclusive. Therefore, it is against this background that the study intends to examine spatial patterns of crimes in Minna and environs, Niger State, Nigeria. The data on crime were obtained from the Niger State Police Headquarters within the metropolis. An administrative map of the study area was obtained from the Ministry of Land and Survey Niger State which was used as the base map for the study. Microsoft excel and ArcGIS version 10.1 was used to analyzed the data. The result revealed that the railway around Kpakungu and Soje-A has the most notorious crime spots. Other crime spots include some three locations around River Gadun, KK football fîeld around Kudu mobile house as well as behind Kpakungu NEPA office. Soje-A have 7 reported crime spots, Soje-B have 8 reported crime spots and Kpakungu have 14 reported crime spots all between 2013 and 2018. As also revealed in the study, Hayin Gwari have 11 reported crime spots which mostly affect student's residents and Bosso have 17 reported crime spots. Most of these crime spots were student residents and the items stolen were laptop computers, phones as well as valuable properties.