TRENDING PATTERN OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR ON RESIDENTS IN CROSS RIVER STATE NIGERIA: UNVEILING THE MYTH OR UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY
TRENDING PATTERN OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR ON RESIDENTS IN CROSS RIVER STATE NIGERIA: UNVEILING THE MYTH OR UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY

Summary/Abstract: : Youth violence is one of the many problems facing the globe. The issue of youth violence has been declared as intolerable and catastrophic. The United Nations and the World Health organization have both agreed that effective planning and measures must be taken to guide and provide the youth a reasonable platform for a sustainable growth and development to take place. This study examined trending patterns of youth violence and criminal behaviour in Cross River State, Nigeria. The paper adopted the Robert Agnew (1991) Strain and the Gary Becker (1976) Rational Choice theory as its undercurrent in explaining the problem under study. The theories suggest that youth violence and crime is highly related to strain resulting from unequal opportunities, as well as reinforcement and perceived rewards. The method of data collection were the quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (key informant interview). Eight hundred (800) Likert scale well- structured questionnaires were administered and retrieved while twelve (12) Key informant interviews were administered on participants. The quantitative instruments were analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 24 in simple percentages of column and rows while the KII were analyzed using manual content analysis and ethnographic summaries. The findings revealed that youth violence is inhuman, unprogressive, criminal and deadly. The study recommends an allembracing-all-hand on deck approach, good government policies that will create employment, stabilize economy and enhance development as well as proper socialization and sensitization to correct and reduce the menace in Cross River State and beyond.

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