Criminal Victimisation and Factors Responsible for Crime Incidence in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Criminal victimization constitutes a serious threat to national and global development and stability. This study examined criminal victimisation and factors responsible for crime in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Data were acquired through crime victimisation questionnaire survey. A total of 400 respondents were selected using a systematic random sampling method for administration of questionnaire. An administrative map of the study area was acquired from the Ministry of Land and Survey, Bayelsa State which was used as the base map. These data were analysed using both descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) and the Principal Component Analysis. The study revealed that 65% of the respondents and/or their family members had experienced victimisation by criminals. The study also found that theft/stealing had the highest incidence rate of 44.84% while kidnapping (0.72%) had the lowest proportions. It was also revealed that poverty and unemployment were the major causes of crime accounting for 38.42%. Furthermore the results of the study showed that poverty eradication was the key solution for reducing crime incidents, followed by the provision of employment ranked 1st and 2nd respectively. The study therefore recommends that there is need to create enabling environment for business growth and job creation by the state government to reduce the unemployment figure.

Keywords: Victimisation, Criminal Incidence, Socio-economic, Poverty, Survey