Application of Average Nearest Neighbour Analysis of Firearm and Crime Management in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper focuses on identifying locations of firearm recovery and examining changes in illegal firearm possession and recovery in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Applying data sourced from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, FCT command Abuja, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and reports from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Average Nearest Neighbour Analysis (ANNA) methods. The study revealed that 34.0% of illegal firearms were recovered in Abuja Municipal while 19.9% were recovered in Bwari local council. The result also showed that the average nearest neighbour analysis of the four-dataset revealed that illegally possessed firearm and recovered firearm were clustered. While the distribution of firearm recovered that were involved in crime is random and Firearm stolen and recovered is dispersed. The study therefore, recommends that: the average nearest neighbour analysis and GIS methodologies should be integrated in fighting crime, as this will enable the creation of geo data base to reduce ineffectiveness and create automated police field operation and increase the effectiveness of crime fighting generally.