Geospatial Analysis of Kidnapping in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Authors: Uzonu, I.U., Kanu, C. And Okereafor, H.

DOI Info: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12599625

ABSTRACT

This study applied Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing in analyzing banditry in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State. The data utilized were geographical coordinates of bandit attacks, factors responsible for banditry, and an administrative map of the study area. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents in the study area. Nearest Neighbor Analysis (NNA), Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), and Relative Importance Index (RII) were used to analyze the data in Arc Pro version 3.2 and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results revealed that 2021 had the highest rate of reported kidnapping cases while 2019 had the least. The linear trend line equation (Y= 44.3x + 31) showed that Igabi LGA experienced an increase in kidnapping during the study period and that kidnapping rates in the study area are expected to increase by 44.3x cases per annum. The result of the NNA revealed that the spatial pattern of the kidnapping events was clustered around Rigasa, Kakau, Kwarau, and Turunku districts with Z-scores of -43.917356. This means that there is less than 1% probability that this clustered pattern of kidnapping incidents could be because of random chance. Furthermore, the study also revealed that the main social causes of kidnapping include lack of education, ethno-religious intolerance, and political intolerance ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. The main economic causes were attributed to poverty (1st), unemployment (2nd), and economic hardship (3rd). Environmental causes were blamed for the growth of urban slums and shanties (1st) and infrastructural decay (2nd).

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