Journal of Asian and African Studies 1–15 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0021909614552917 jas.sagepub.com J A A S Crime statistics in a Nigerian Traditional City: A Geographic Analysis Adewumi Israel Badiora Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Nigeria Olasunkanmi Habeeb Okunola Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Oluwole Samuel Ojewale Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Abstract The study identified predominant crime type and pattern of crime occurrence in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The research used crime data, by type and location, from January 2005 to December 2010. The spatial distribution of crime types revealed that 68 cases (49%) of offences against individuals occurred in the core area of the city, 40 (29%) in the transition area and 31 (22%) in the suburban, while 184 (20%), 265 (30%) and 451 cases (50%) of offences against property occurred in the core, transition and suburban respectively. The study concluded that there was notable geographical variation in the pattern of crime locations and that this differs with regard to crime type. Keywords Crime, ecology, prevention, safety, space, urban centres Introduction In light of increasing population growth and rapid urbanization, crime has become a major social problem in towns and cities across the globe (Adigun, 2013; Alemika and Chukwuma, 2004; Badiora and Afon, 2013; Jayamala 2008; Jeremy 2010). Crime is now a global phenomenon to which all towns and cities are susceptible (Kinsella, 2012; Pope, 2010). This is because the organization of towns, cities and urban centers is now complex and this inhibits conformity to all social rules by all inhabitants (Badiora, 2012; Kinsella, 2012; Porter, 2010). This is in line with Corresponding author: Adewumi Israel Badiora, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Nigeria. Email: wumi_zion@yahoo.com; aibadiora@jabu.edu.ng 552917JAS 0 0 10.1177/0021909614552917Journal of Asian and African StudiesBadiora et al. research-article 2014 Original Article by guest on September 23, 2015 jas.sagepub.com Downloaded from