GATED NEIGHBOURHOODS AND CRIME PREVENTION IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Rising crime and persistent insecurity have increasingly influenced residential patterns in Nigeria, resulting in the growth of gated neighbourhoods as alternative security strategies. This study examined gated neighbourhoods and crime prevention in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated crime prevalence, the types and categories of gated neighbourhoods, their role in crime prevention. The study was anchored on Broken Window Theory and adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised 352,300 residents of gated and non-gated neighbourhoods, as well as vigilante members. A sample size of 399 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, while participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that burglary, theft, and night-time offences remained prevalent, with many residents expressing fear of crime. Gated neighbourhoods were predominantly security-driven and comprised formal gated estates, semi-formal gated streets, and individual gated compounds. Residents generally perceived these neighbourhoods as enhancing safety, peace of mind, and living conditions. However, high security costs, weak coordination with public police, unequal access to security, and delayed emergency responses remained major challenges. The hypotheses indicated a significant negative relationship between crime prevalence and the role of gated neighbourhoods (r (379) = -.391, p = .000.  p < .05), significant gender differences in residents' perceptions (t (379) = -1.816, p = .070. p > .05). The study concluded that although gated neighbourhoods contribute to crime prevention, greater collaboration among private, vigilante, and public security agencies is recommended to improve their effectiveness.