YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN OYI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Youths involve in criminal activities globally. Nigeria as a country is not an exception. Youthsinvolve themselves in criminal activities for several reasons. The problem of youthinvolvement in crime has become a serious challenge to the society especially in Oyi localgovernment area of Anambra state. The issue affects not just the individuals but also familymembers and the society at large. The implication is that the youth becomes useless rather thanbeing useful to the society. The society is at risk because it leads to insecurity thereby givingbad image to the community. This is a theoretical work that made use of secondary sources ofdata like journals, academic sources. The strain theory was the theoretical framework for thework. It explains the rationale for crime among youths. It examined factors influencing youthinvolvement in criminal activities and possible solutions to the problem. The factors rangesfrom poverty, unemployment, family size, peer pressure and so on. Recommendations weregiven such as giving of incentives to youths in entrepreneurship, parents speaking to theirchildren against crime, religious bodies talking about morality and also job creation by thegovernments for the youths.