URBANIZATION AND PROPERTY CRIME IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL, NIGERIA: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The general aim of this paper is to determine the trend, pattern and control of property crimes in Abuja Municipal. The target population for this study resides in various parts of Abuja Municipal Area Council. Sample populations of600 respondents were drawn using cluster and systematic random sampling of households and respondents in six (6) chosen locations in Abuja Municipal namely Garki, Wuse, Maitama and Asokoro from the city centre, Nyanya/Karu and Gwagwa/Karmo from the satellite towns. The results showed that urbanization has only brought improvements in living conditions of the people, but it has also brought profound changes which created conditions conducive for property crimes. Based on its findings, the study recommends for the provision of basic amenities and social infrastructural facilities such as good road networks, housing, education, hospitals, electricity and water among others should be a major priority of government as part of the measures towards controlling the challenges of urbanization and property crimes in Abuja.