Abstract
This study assessed the policing system, structure for crime activities and crime prevalence in
Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria between 2014 and 2023. The study adopted
questionnaire which was designed and administered to 220 respondents consisting of one
hundred and seventy (170) landlord/landladies, and fifty (50) tenants. Simple random sample
method was adopted in administering the questionnaire where small, basic portion of the study
area represent the entire data set. Policing structure were assessed through in-depth interview
by the Police Force, Moniya Divisional Headquarters. However, questions were asked based on
crime prevalence and control measures of crime in the study area. Descriptive statistics was
used to analyse residents’ socio-economic attributes of respondents’ and perceptions on crime
prevalence in the study area. The result revealed Ojoo among the selected communities that have
the highest level of crime with 40 (18.20%) respondents. Stealing with 54 (24.54%) and burglary
with 49 (22.27%) are the most recent crime experienced in the study area based on the
respondents’ perception. However, respondents agreed that unemployment is the major causes
of crime, youth as the principal perpetrators and landlord as the principal victims of crime and
street blockages as the mitigating measures in the study area. The study discovered shortage of
Police personnel with less than 320 Police officers in the entire LGA. In addition, inadequate
equipments characterized the policing system as only two patrol vehicles were functioning at the
Police station in Moniya, servicing Moniya and other nearby axes such as: Alabata, Olorisaoko,
Elekuru, and Ijaye, which affected proper monitoring of other area(s) in terms of proximity and
travel time.