CURBING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA:A CASE STUDY OF EDO STATE.NBM OF AFRICA

CURBING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA:A CASE STUDY OF EDO STATE..NBM PUBLIC LECTURE.

Objectives:

The main goal of the study is to use the incidence of violence attributable to youths in Benin City to explain the nature and effects of youth violence in Nigeria.

This paper will provide some explanation for the rising incidence of youth gang violence in Benin City. The essay will use our findings as crucial learning points for the broader context of youth violence management in the country.

METHODOLOGY:

Data for this study was obtained from our monthly peer review session through oral contribution from participants, personal interviews conducted and digital group submissions. The data was culled from primary and secondary sources.

CONCEPTUALISING YOUTH VIOLENCE:

Substantial amount of literature has been published on youth violence.

However, this sub-chapter considers not just the features and definitions of youth violence but also it will explore the causes of youth violence. David-Ferdon & Simon (2014) agreed that youth violence occurs when young people intentionally use physical force or power to threaten or harm others.

Youth violence typically involves young people hurting other peers who are unrelated to them and whom they may or may not know well.

Youth violence can take different forms. Examples include fights, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. A young person can be involved with youth violence as a victim, offender, or witness.

In the course of our investigation on the causes of youth violence, our research reveals that like many other conflicts, causes of youth violence are multi-faceted and are related to economic, political and institutional factors.

Our key respondent during the research study observed that huge unemployment, lack of access to economics opportunities, political thuggery, quest for political power and lack of good governance and development are some of the indices that are responsible for the high increase in youth violence.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

There are two factors that are likely to be issues in Nigeria for a long time to come. These are youth violence and violent crimes, both of which, as we have seen, are catalysts for revolution. To address youth violence, provision should be made for the establishment of a body with constitutional powers comprised of community stake holders to keep peace and ensure that violent conflict is discouraged among youth.

In our discussion, it was identified that greater partnership with the youth to proactively engage them and ensure that the main aim of going to higher education is achieved. The research also reveals that the government and economic stakeholders should fight poverty, with greater emphasis on industrialization to ensure that job becomes readily available for the masses.

The focus group also recommended that awareness and publicity of the disadvantages of gang and conflict should be increased, and it called on all stake holders in the area of conflict prevention and resolution to be the leading voice of such campaign.

We emphasised on the need for cross party interaction with other identified organisation part taking in the youth violence and we insisted that the hierarchy officers of such group when identified should take the lead in this interaction.

The panel also warned that youth groups should be mindful of inductees and her new members to ensure that sanity and discipline is restored to such organisations.

We wish all members of NBM, a perfect deliberation in the annual convention.

Fraternally Yours

Manchester Zone.