Urban Crime and Violence: The Nigerian Experience

Abstract

Given the serious nature of urban violent crimes and its implications on socio-economic development; it is clear that there is a crucial need for a common understanding of the trend, pattern and spread in the Country. This paper provides an overview of the state of urban violence in Nigeria, the country with fastest urban growth rate in Africa. The study adopts qualitative research method, which entails extraction of secondary data from text books, journals, seminar papers, research findings, Newspapers, and other reliable media reports on the subject. Accordingly, the generated data were carefully analysed using descriptive method. It was evident that, Nigeria’s urban communities provide a classic case study of the rise of violence, as the areas are fast becoming zones for wars and fora for violent expression. The paper therefore, recommend among others, genuine socio-economic transformation, reorganization of security agencies and systemic security in Nigeria.