Data Analysis of Domestic Violence Reporting Trends in Kano State Using Police Records

Systematic data analysis of domestic violence police records can reveal underreporting patterns, temporal trends, and geographic concentrations that inform targeted intervention design. This study analysed anonymised domestic violence incident reports from Kano State Police Command covering 2019 to 2022, comprising 4,318 recorded cases across 44 divisions. Descriptive statistics, spatial visualisation using district mapping, and time-series analysis were applied. Results showed that reported cases increased by 34.2 percent from 2020 to 2021, coinciding with COVID-19 mobility restrictions, before partially declining in 2022. Metropolitan Kano divisions accounted for 58.3 percent of all cases despite comprising only 31 percent of the state population, likely reflecting higher reporting propensity rather than higher incidence. Female victims accounted for 89.1 percent of all cases. Economic dispute and substance abuse were the most frequently recorded precipitating factors. Seasonal trends showed elevated reporting in December and early January. Cases involving physical injury represented 61.7 percent of records, while the majority of non-injury cases were closed without prosecution. Referral to social services was documented in only 8.4 percent of cases. The study highlights the limitations of police records as a sole source for domestic violence surveillance while demonstrating their analytical value when combined with contextual knowledge. Recommendations include establishing a multi-agency data integration protocol, deploying trained victim support officers in high-incident divisions, and creating anonymous reporting channels to address underreporting in rural Kano divisions.

Keywords: domestic violence data, police records, Kano State, trend analysis, data-driven intervention