SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF CRIME INCIDENCE IN BAYELSA WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The prevalence of crime is a major social issue in Nigeria. This study seeks to examine the spatiotemporal variations of crime incidence in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Police crime records data were obtained from the Divisional Police Headquarters within Bayelsa West Senatorial District. Line graphs and Analysis of Variance were used for data analysis. It was found that Oporomor III had the highest crime rate with 12%, followed by Sagbama (8.8%), while Oyiakiri I and IV had the least with 0.6% each of the total crime cases reported in the study area. The findings revealed that there were variations in the frequencies of the crime incidents among the 26 administrative wards in Bayelsa West Senatorial District. The findings further revealed that 2014 recorded the highest crime cases with 23.5%, while 2015 had the lowest with only 14.7%. The study further revealed that there was no significant temporal variation of crime events from 2014-2018 across the study area. The study recommends that community policing committees be constituted in the political wards of Oporomor, Sagbama, and other wards plagued by criminal events in the Local government areas.