Cities and crimes: Urbanisation and security conundrums in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This article examines the interface between urbanisation and (in)security in Ibadan, Nigeria. It notes that urbanisation in Ibadan has had twin security impacts: engendered multiple security threats and provoked diverse security responses from governments (federal and state) and residents, individually and collectively, evinced in the deployment of traditional (unorthodox) security mechanisms, walled and gated residences/houses, walled and gated neighborhoods, and use of electronic security devices in residences and neighborhoods, among others. It argues that whereas all residents are confronted by the problem of insecurity, there are some differences in the character of the security threats, and responses to security threats that residents confront across the residential districts of the city. The paper concludes that unless the idea of planned cities and controlled/managed urbanisation is adopted and implemented, efforts, by governments (federal/state) and residents, individually and collectively, to successfully address the problem of urban insecurity are bound to be inadequate and ineffective.