The 2013 National Crime Victimization and Safety Survey conducted by CLEEN Foundation has revealed that Ogun State is the safest state in Nigeria with only 1 out of 20 respondents claiming to be victims of criminal activity.
The national average was 25 per cent – one in every four Nigerians, according to the information publicized by Premium Times.
Enugu State, in the south east, is the official crime capital of Nigeria, 70 per cent of respondents to the survey in Enugu admitted they were victims of crime in the past year. “There has been a six per cent decrease in actual experience of crime from the 31 per cent recorded in 2012 to the current 25 percent,” the report said.
The report surveyed for crimes like robbery, kidnapping, physical assault, phone and car theft, molestation and attempted molestation, domestic violence, attempted murder and other crimes.
The Crime Victimization Survey used data collected across Nigeria between June and July 2013.
Katsina State in Northwest Nigeria is the next safest. Only about one in every 10 residents was a victim of crime last year.
Lagos State recorded 18 percent.
Borno and Yobe, despite being the hotbed for Boko Haram attacks recorded seemingly low crime rates, according to the report. Only about one in every four resident admitted being victims of crime last year. Boko Haram militants have murdered over 1,500 people in the states since launching a vicious attack against government establishments, security agencies, religious places and the residents.
At a geopolitical level, the South East recorded the highest number of crimes with 44 per cent of respondents complaining they were victims. The North West recorded the lowest score of 18 per cent crime rate.
On a gender scale, more men than women fell victims of crimes in Nigeria last year.
“Further (segregation) by gender indicates that more men (27%) had actual experience than women (23%),” the report said.