Spatial Analysis of Residents' Fear and Feeling of Insecurity in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined spatial pattern of crime and residents’ fear and feeling of insecurity in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. To obtain the primary data, Ile-Ife was stratified into four residential zones namely traditional town centre, middle income, high income and post-crisis residential areas. Sample was selected using systematic sampling from each zone. Level of insecurity perceived by residents in the night and day time showed that post crisis residential areas of the town recorded relative insecurity index (RII) of 4.71 in the night. The RII of traditional town centre in the night was put at 3.74. RII of 2.43 and 2.14 were computed for middle income and low income residential areas of the town in the day time. Using stepwise regression analysis, it was discovered that 86.5% of the total variance in residents’ fear and feeling of insecurity could be explained by independent variable observed. The study concluded that significant variation exist in the residents’ level of insecurity feeling in different residential zones of the study area as rate of occurrence of criminal activities in different residential areas varied significantly.

Key words: Crime, Fear, Insecurity, Spatial, Risk, Victimisation.