Applicability of GIS in Minimizing the Effects of Insecurity and Crimes in Kajuru Local Governement Area of Kaduna State

Abstract

This study assess the applicability of GIS in countering the effects of insecurity and crimes in Kajuru local government of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The research specifically examine the effects of insecurity and crime issues in the study area and also assess the applicability of geographic information system (GIS) in minimizing the effects of insecurity and crime issues in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. A simple descriptive research method was used, by administering questionnaire which was used as the instrument to a sample population 399 people from the entire population of Kajuru local government. The findings revealed that: inadequate funding of insecurity personnel, lack of modern equipment both in weaponry and training, inadequate and disparities in provision of social amenities, unemployment especially among youths, poverty and bribery and corruption causes insecurity and crimes; finally the study also proved that, GIS facilitate tracking the movement of criminals, GIS can help security agencies to determine potential terrorists site, using GIS automated system, terrorists could be monitored, tract and smashed across borders and highways and GIS provide understanding of social phenomenon like criminality, violence and fear and thereby working out to solve those problems. Implications for safe and secure communities were and the research recommended that there should be more need of using GIS technology in addressing the problem of insecurity in the study area and all over the country at large.