RESIDENTS VULNERABILITY TO CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Christopher Michael Eraye, Chijioke Chinwokwu Eke, Martins Nyen Inyang

Abstract


The rate at which residents of Lafia are prone to criminal victimization is becoming alarming. Residents’ susceptibility to criminal activities is prevalent in Nigeria generally. This paper therefore, explores urban residents’ vulnerability to criminal victimization in Lafia Metropolis. The study underscored variables that make the lives and property of residents at risk. The study employed the survey research design. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were employed to elicit data from 384 respondents, selected via the simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The paperfound that poverty which influences criminal behaviour was also a cogent variable capable of making residents prone to victimization. It was also established that ethnicity, illiteracy, unemployment and reporting of criminals to the police are factors that also make residents’ vulnerable to criminal victimization. It was recommended among others that poverty should be addressed through appropriate alleviation programmes such as training of youths in diverse entrepreneur skills, government should provide security for the masses and reduces the number of security personnel attached to the privilege class as it is currently being practiced in the Country. Government at all levels should ensure that education is given adequate attention and should be free for all citizens irrespective of their gender, religion and class. Finally, government should employ the services of Private Security Organization to provide security for her institutions, so that the Police force can be allowed to provide security for the masses.

Keywords


Vulnerability, Residents, criminal, victimization, Urban

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References


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