URBANIZATION AND CRIME RATES IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Crime rate globally has become a source of concern, especially in urban centers from various continents the issues are the same. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rate of kidnapping, vehicular borne crime, cattle rustling among others are pandemic that worries the residents, thus this study on Urbanization and crime rates in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to investigate crime incidents in the FCT and to determine the areas with critical incidences of crime. The study adopted survey design.  The sample size was four hundred (400) respondents drawn using Yamane Statistics. Concept of Crime and the concept of crime rate was reviewed. Charts were given by the Urban and Rural Planning Department of the FCTA. Also, Crime Statistics for the years 2006 and 2021 were analyzed from the FCT Police Command. The Monthly Intelligence Report (MIR) of the Security Services Department of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for Year 2021 to analyses crime rates as per Monthly level, Area Council by Area Council and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) were sourced and compared. Crime Pattern Theory was the guiding theoretical framework used. The study revealed that armed robbery and drug abuse were the most prevalent crimes in the FCT. The study also finds out that the most vulnerable area to crime in AMAC was Gwagwa village in FCT just like it also identified areas in other Area Councils. The study thus concluded that the vulnerability of these areas was due to the influence of urbanization of the areas. The study recommends that The FCT authority should intensify efforts at mopping small arms and light weapons proliferation in the FCT; and that the Police and other Intelligence agencies should step up their efforts at the identified areas and locations within the Area Councils in the FCT to enable business and social activities to thrive in the areas.