THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN REDUCING THE RATE OF CRIME IN ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The act of crime is a universal phenomenon and it does no one any good. This study will look at this ugly thread in the present Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria to find out the role the church has to play to curtail the increase. The aim was to propose possible measures churches need to put in place to reduce the rising tide of crime. During the course of this study, primary and secondary sources were employed. The study observed that crime in recent time in Onitsha is necessitated by the increase in unemployment rate among the youths which increased as a result of the Covid -19 pandemic, the insecurity in Northern Nigeria which has put firearms in wrong hands, corruption and lack of democratic dividend, injustice and marginalization among others. In the midst of these scenarios, the church in Onitsha has adopted constant enlightenment campaign on the dangers of crime in various schools, engaged the unemployed in skill acquisition programmes, offered scholarship, and soft loans among numerous other activities. Hence, this work recommends that the government and well to do individuals in the society should adopt the church approach. In the same vein, the government should create enabling environment for rapid industrialization to ensure that the unemployed is engaged so as crime is reduced to the barest minimal in Nigeria.