ABSTRACT
One of the recurring phenomena militating against human, societal and property safety and wellbeing at alarming and deteriorated rate in many urban centres in sub-Saharan Africa is crime. This study aimed at analyses of the spatial pattern of urban crime in Benin City. Specific objectives include to: investigate the most prevalent crime and extent of exposures, explore the extent of anxiety about crime, probability of becoming a victim and degree of safety among residents, evaluate the general nature of the housing environment as well as the socio-environmental characteristics and activities that encourage crime, as well as examine the strategies adopted by residents and business operators to cope with and reduce their crime risk. It was also hypothesized that there is no statistical significant variation in the prevalent crime and extent of exposures in Benin City. Dataset was elicited from 400 respondents selected through multi-stage and simple random sampling and administration of well-structured questionnaire administered across 10 police divisional and coverage areas (PDCAs) in Benin City. Descriptive Statistics, Likert scale, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), K-mean cluster analysis (K-MCA) and GIS-based choropleth mapping (CM) formed the key frameworks for data analyses. Results showed that Fraud (false pretence, cheating, yahoo yahoo) with WMS of 4.09, Cultism (WMS = 4.08) and Burglary (house/store breaking) (WMS = 4.07) emerged as the top three most prevalent crime in Benin City based. In contrast, manslaughter/suicide/ritual killings (WMS = 3.70), Arson (WMS = 3.69) and traffic offense/wrong parking (WMS = 3.60.) emerged as the last three most prevalent crime in the study area. Very High exposure to fraud (false pretence, cheating, yahoo yahoo) with the K-Means score (KMS) range of 4.17 - 5.00 clustered around Ugbowo and Ugbekun Police Divisional Coverage Areas (PDCAs) even as Very Low exposure (KMS = 0.83 - 1.67) found around Egba, New Benin, Textile Mill Road, Oba Market as well as Ugbor PDCAs. Abandoned, dilapidated and uncompleted building structures with scary writings, drawings and graffiti (WMS = 4.21), Banned drug activities/hideouts (buying, selling and consumption) (WMS = 4.20) and Activities of gangsters, thugs, hoodlums, hooligans and mobsters displayed in the open (WMS = 4.10) surfaced as the top three most perceived factors capable of encouraging crime in Benin City. Reporting to the police/law enforcement authority for action (WMS = 3.52), forming/belonging to local vigilante to tackle the issue (WMS = 3.50) and don’ t go out or come back once it is dark or at night (WMS = 3.48) emerged as the top three most effective strategy adopted by the respondents in order to cope with and/or reduce the risk of becoming a crime victim. At 95% level of confidence, the prevalent and extent of other crimes except exposures to kidnapping and aggravated assaults/harassments by hoodlums did not vary according to PDCAs. The study recommends empowerment of neighbourhood vigilante for routine neighbourhood policing.
