By Patience Mabel Yakubu
Abuja – Some residents of Abuja have said that the panacea to reduce violence and criminality among youths is through mobilisation and enlightenment.
The residents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
A lawyer, Mr Moses Adeola decried the high level of violence and criminality among youths and called for consensus from community leaders and other stakeholders to tackle it.
“The combined leadership of the justice system and community-based organisations must focus on the mobilisation of political and community resources to address violence and criminality problems,” Adeola said.
Another resident, Mrs Joyce John, said that children need religious and social guardian from parents and other relations to ensure that he or she grows up without criminal tendencies.
“Grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, counselors, and family friends can serve as positive role models to the youths.
“Parents can hurt themselves and their children by creating an isolated environment around them but with encouragement, kind, compassionate, and ethical people involved, they will grow up to behave well,” John said.
According to her, when parents are violent, abusive or insensitive to their children, it will have a bad influence on them, rather children should be taught how to be sympathetic and control their anger.
“Parents must be attuned on how they discipline their children; they should make sure their punishment comes out of care and concern for how they feel and behave and not from their own emotional issues, “John said.
Benjamin Ekow a student, said awareness programme against violence and criminality among the youths should be carry out at hotspot areas.
“The focus needs to be on preventing the conditions that pushed the youths into violence and crime. The government should do more by not only imposing penalties on youths who have committed a crime.
“It should also offer youths the prospect of work or education as this will keep them from embarking on a life of crime,” Ekow said.
Mrs Esther Simon, a teacher, said that every young person was different and deserves support that was specifically tailored toward them.
“For example, an aggressive person can be ordered to attend a course to learn how to cope with and control aggression.
“Early intervention plays an important role in keeping youths from embarking on a life of crime as well as swift and consistent punishment for offences can help reduce the incidence of crime in the society.
“A team comprising of representatives from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, schools and other groups should prepare a set of policies and practices to mobilise youths to help reduce criminality.
Edited by Felix Nwadioha