Assessment of the Impact of Situational Crime Prevention Strategies on Banditry Activities in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of situational crime prevention (SCP) strategies on banditry activities in Katsina State, Nigeria. Guided by five objectives, corresponding research questions, and null hypotheses tested at the 0.05 level of significance, the research employed a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 400 households and victims across five Local Government Areas (Batsari, Jibia, Safana, Kankara, and Faskari), while qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 30 key stakeholders and field observations. Reliability testing using Cronbach’s Alpha yielded values between 0.78 and 0.86, confirming strong internal consistency. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, and t-tests with thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Findings revealed that SCP strategies are moderately applied but unevenly distributed, with surveillance and community policing more prominent than environmental design and target hardening. Statistical results confirmed that SCP strategies significantly reduce the frequency and severity of banditry incidents, though perceptual differences exist between community members and security agencies. Structural challenges including resource constraints, poor infrastructure, limited manpower, and community distrust were identified as barriers to effective implementation. The study concludes that SCP strategies are effective but must be institutionalized, expanded through community policing, and integrated into broader socioeconomic and governance reforms. Recommendations include strengthening rural infrastructure, enhancing security training, scaling up community policing, and embedding SCP into national crime prevention policy frameworks. This research contributes originality by extending SCP theory to rural banditry in Nigeria, providing empirical validation through mixed methods, and offering actionable policy insights for sustainable security interventions.