Study of the Role of Gender in Victimisation Patterns for Violent Crime in Ogun State

Gender is a fundamental determinant of violent crime victimisation patterns, and understanding how gender shapes victim risk, crime type experienced, and access to justice in Ogun State provides important evidence for gender-responsive crime prevention and criminal justice policy. This study examined gender differences in violent crime victimisation patterns among adults in Abeokuta South, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu Local Government Areas, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 280 adults (140 male, 140 female) using stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire assessed victimisation types in the preceding 12 months, reporting behaviour, psychological impact, and access to support services. Independent samples t-tests and chi-square analyses compared gendered victimisation patterns. Results showed that males reported higher rates of robbery (32.1 percent versus 12.1 percent for females), while females reported significantly higher rates of sexual violence (24.3 percent versus 2.1 percent for males) and domestic violence (41.4 percent versus 11.4 percent). Formal crime reporting was significantly lower among female victims (11.4 percent) than male victims (28.6 percent). Access to victim support services was reported by only 9.3 percent of female victims. The study concludes that gender fundamentally shapes both the nature of violent victimisation and access to justice in Ogun State. Recommendations include gender-disaggregated crime data collection, gender-responsive policing training, and expanded victim support services accessible to women in all three LGAs.

Keywords: gender and victimisation, violent crime, Ogun State, gender-based violence, crime reporting