Flood Disaster and the Vulnerability of Households to Crime in Urban Areas in Nigeria

Abstract

This study explores whether natural disasters, especially flooding, would lead to a rise in violent and property crime rates, and the implications that these crimes could have on the victims. A total of 100 victims of flood induced crime in flood prone areas were selected using purposive sampling technique. The data collected using questionnaire, and records from security agency comprised of socio-economic characteristics of affected households, violent and property crime rate rise, and implications of flood induced crime as perceived by affected communities. Also reported cases of crime in affected areas were collected from Police divisional headquarters and State Police Command of flood affected areas. Data collected were analysed using percentages, frequency count. Likert scale method was used to measure increase in crime during the flood incidence in the affected areas. Using a ‘before, during and after’ approach, the study revealed that flood disaster increased the vulnerability level of households to crime and at the same time crime increased during flood disaster and decreased significantly after the disaster in urban areas in Nigeria. Also, the implication of flood induced crime include anxiety and depression (ADI=2.73), Social dysfunction (SDI=2.36) and loss of confidence (LCI=2.72). Therefore, there is need for disaster prone areas and disaster management agents in the country to incorporate security measures in disaster preparedness, coping and recovery strategies in order to minimize security challenges ensuing from natural disaster in the country during flooding