Rural-Urban Migration and Criminal Activities in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examines the socio-economic factors contributing to
the rise in criminal activities in Uyo Local Government Area.
The area faces challenges such as low educational attainment,
high unemployment rates, and inadequate infrastructure, all of
which exacerbate crime rates. The research investigates the
trend of criminal activities, identifies their root causes, assesses
their impact on the community, and proposes effective prevention
strategies. The study is guided by Siddique's (2015)
urbanisation-crime linkage theory, which posits that
urbanisation fosters social disorganisation, thereby increasing
the incidence of crime. A social survey research design was
employed, with a sample size of 300 respondents drawn from a
population of 1,393,450, as reported by the World Population
Review (2025). Taro Yamane's formula was used to determine the
sample size, and random sampling ensured minimal bias.
Structured questionnaires comprising demographic data and
research questions served as the primary research instrument.
Both primary and secondary data sources were utilised, while data analysis was carried out using simple percentages and chisquare tests to evaluate the hypotheses. The findings revealed
that rural-urban migration significantly influences the trend of
criminal activities in Uyo, with unemployment and poverty
identified as key drivers. To address these challenges, the study
recommends that both federal and state governments prioritise
the development of rural communities through the provision of
basic infrastructure such as electricity, potable water, and
motorable roads. Furthermore, the establishment of local
industries is advocated to create employment opportunities and
reduce the pressure on urban centres, thereby helping to curb the
rise in criminal activities.