Abstract
The
persistent increase in the rate of juvenile crimes in Nigeria and the abysmal
failure by the diverse religious institutes to curb this problem have
constituted a serious barrier to the country’s economic development since many
young ones who epitomizes the nation’s future are enmeshed in moral decadence.
Although the subject of juvenile delinquency is an age long problem, it seems
that the juvenile delinquency of the past cannot be evaluated with that of the
present era in Nigeria. The situation must however be understood against the
backdrop of the flaws in fostering a genuine ethical cum religious teachings on
the young ones by the diverse religious institutions that scattered across the
country. The challenges of juvenile delinquency in Nigeria cannot be
effectively discussed without highlighting the probable social costs of this
endemic disease to Nigerian nation. Most
uncurbed delinquencies has in recent times developed into violent crimes which
the evidence is manifested in the activities of bombing by the boko haram sect
and other violent groups in Nigeria. A nation with high religious profile and
proliferation of churches and mosques ought to produce less delinquent children
consequent upon the fact that religion encompasses sound religious
indoctrination and ethical teachings which enthrones moral uprightness in the
young ones. However, the most bothering questions that this research wants to solve
are as follows; Why must there still be high rate of juvenile
delinquency amidst many religious institutions in Nigeria? Why is the role of
ethics in dealing with this delinquency problem being relegated?
Can religion and ethical principles provide a possible
solution to ameliorate this juvenile delinquency? What actually is the subject
of juvenile crime and what popular theories including modernization surround
it? When these question are not attended carefully, delinquent of today would
certainly become the criminal of tomorrow. The aim of this
research is to provide a lasting solution to the challenges of juvenile
delinquency in Nigeria especially when the country is religiously increasing
day by day and to draw back the attention of different religion in Nigeria on
their places of loop holes. Qualitative research methodology which aims to
gather an in-depth understanding of the concept and reasons that governs such
idea was used in this work. It produces information through exploration only on
the particular cases studied.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page ……………………………………………………. i
Requirement Page ……………………………………………………. ii
Approval Page ……………………………………………………. iii
Certification page ……………………………………………………. iv
Dedication ……………………………………………………. v
Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………. vi
Abstract …………………………………………………… vii
Table of contents ……………………………………………………. x
Chapter One: INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study ………………………………………….. 1
- Statement of the Problem…………………………………………… 4
- Aim of the Study………………………………………………………. 7
- Significance of the Study……………………………………………. 8
- Scope of Study………………………………………………………….. 9
- Research Methodology………………………………………………. 10
- Definition of Related Terms……………………………………….. 10
Chapter Two: LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………….. 15
Chapter Three: MANIFESTATIONS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN NIGERIA
3.1 Behaviour that Constitutes Juvenile Delinquency Acts….. 37
3.1.1 Stealing……………………………………………………………………. 37
3.1.2 Vandalism………………………………………………………………… 38
3.1.3 Cultism……………………………………………………………………. 38
3.1.4 Examination Malpractice………………………………………….. 39
3.1.5 Dressing/Fashion………………………………………………………. 40
3.2 Juvenile Delinquency in Primary/Secondary Schools……. 41
3.3 Juvenile Crimes and the Influence of Information\
Communication Technology………………………………………… 42
3.4 Stealing and Kleptomania among the Juveniles………………. 54
Chapter Four: THE CHALLENGES AND EFFECTS OF JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY IN NIGERIA
4.1.1 Poverty, Unemployment and hopelessness ………………………… 60
4.1.2 Availability of Guns, Drugs and alcohol …………………………. 62
4.1.3 Environmental Challenges ………………………………………………. 64
4.2 Juvenile Court and the delinquents in Nigeria. …………………….. 65
4.3 The Effects of Juvenile Delinquency …………………………………… 67
4.4 Uncurbed Delinquencies as a Road to Boko Haram Sect
in Nigeria ………………………………………………………………………. 70
Chapter Five: WAYS OF CURBING JUVENILE DELINQUECY IN
NIGERA
5.1 Treatment of Juvenile Delinquency …………………………………… 73
5.2 The Preventive Measures against the Challenges of Juvenile
Delinquency in Nigeria ………………………………………………….. 75
5.2.1 Religious-Based Preventive Interventions ……………………….. 77
5.2.2 Family-Based Preventive Interventions ……………………….. 78
5.2.3 School-Based Preventive Interventions ……………………….. 79
5.2.4 Community-Based Preventive Interventions ………………………. 80
Chapter Six: THE IRONY OF RELIGIOSITY AND JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY IN NIGERIA
6.1 Religiosity without Religion in Nigeria ………………………… 82
6.2 Proliferation of Church in Nigeria ………………………………. 88
6.3 Proliferation of Mosques in Nigeria ………………………………… 89
6.4 The Problem of Materialism and Commercialization of Religious
Ministry ……………………………….. ………………………………….. 90
6.5 The Problem of Fraud and Criminality ………………………………… 91
Chapter Seven: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
7.1 General Assessment ………………………………………………….. 95
7.2 Limitation of the Study ………………………………………………….. 98
7.3 Suggestion for Further Research ……………………………….. 99
7.4 Conclusion ……………………………….. ………………………………….. 100
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………….. 102
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of the Study
It has remained a paradox that Nigeria, a highly religious country, cannot deny in its historical records, the challenges of juvenile delinquency. Nigeria is a great nation with great fortunes and great opportunities. Although the subject of juvenile delinquency is an age long problem, it seems that the juvenile delinquency of the past cannot be evaluated with that of the present era in Nigeria. The challenges have become a cankerworm that has transmitted from juvenile delinquency to a violent crime which has subjected the country to a security threat and all sorts of crisis. The persistent increase in the rate of juvenile crimes in Nigeria and the abysmal failure by the diverse religious institutes to curb this problem have constituted a serious barrier to the country’s economic development since many “young ones who epitomizes the nation’s future” (Ugwuoke, 2010,p.23) are enmeshed in moral decadence. Juvenile delinquency is therefore viewed as a major impediment to socio-economic progress and a significant threat to national security. The situation must however be understood against the backdrop of the flaws in fostering a genuine ethical cum religious teachings on the young ones by the diverse religious institutions that scattered across the country. Consequently, the researcher insisted on the need of revisiting the proper functions and the roles of religion by different religious institution in Nigeria which stands to curb the challenges of this delinquency. Hence, Omoregbe (2010) noted that “ethical teachings generate certain moral convictions and outlook which in turn influence and guide people’s conduct along certain directions.”(p.12)Obviously, unless something is done to roll back the wave of juvenile delinquency in Nigeria, the prospect of a better, safer and more prosperous society emerging in the country will remain elusive.
