Assessment of the Causes and Effects of Armed Robbery on Small Business Owners in Lagos State

Armed robbery continues to threaten the commercial viability of small and medium enterprises across Nigerian urban centres, with Lagos representing one of the highest-risk environments for business-targeted violent crime. This study assessed the causes and effects of armed robbery on small business owners in selected markets in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with structured questionnaires administered to 280 small business owners from five markets across Lagos Island, Alimosho, and Surulere Local Government Areas, using purposive and random sampling. The questionnaire assessed robbery victimisation history, business impact, psychological effects, and protective measures adopted. Results revealed that 62.1 percent of respondents had been victims of armed robbery at least once in the preceding two years. Loss of business capital (74.3 percent of affected owners), psychological trauma including persistent anxiety (67.8 percent), and relocation or business closure (31.4 percent) were the primary reported effects. Poverty, unemployment, and inadequate police patrol density were identified by respondents as the most significant underlying causes. Only 33.6 percent of victims had reported incidents to the police, with distrust of police effectiveness being the primary barrier to reporting. The study concludes that armed robbery imposes severe economic and psychological costs on the small business sector in Lagos. Recommendations include increased targeted police patrols at market locations, community policing activation, and victim support services integrated into Lagos State Small Business Development Agency programming.

Keywords: armed robbery, small business, victimisation, Lagos State, crime impact