Criminality in public places of urban communities: Examining crime incidences around transit stop stations in Ibadan, Nigeria

The study examined pattern of crime in and around public automobile stop stations in Ibadan, southwestern of Nigeria. The study area was stratified into the high, medium and low density areas where a bus station each was randomly selected. Crimes as assault, sexual harassment and aggression were found to be common to bus stations in the high density areas, stealing was mostly associated with bus stations in the medium density areas while the crime of acquisition was the problem of bus stations in the low density areas. Public disorderliness was evenly distributed across the bus stations in the high, medium and low density areas. Furthermore, individuals were more susceptible to crime during the evening-night, weekend and festive periods. Differences in distribution of crime among the selected stop stations were found to be significant (F=57.701; p=0.00). The study concluded that crime clustering in and around bus stations in Ibadan, Nigeria follow a pattern related to the city's centre, zone of transition and suburban problems.