Police, CFFP decry juvenile crimes in communities

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Centre for Family Peace (CFFP) have begun moves to address the devastating effects of crimes and offences perpetrated by young people, including teenagers, across communities in the country.

The move began on Friday in Abuja with the inauguration of a Steering Committee to implement and execute the Annual Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Conference on Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control Project.

Speaking during the inauguration, IGP Kayode Egbetokun stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive approach as well as concerted efforts and commitments towards addressing the root causes of behavioural problems of young people in the country.

Represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Mohamed Dankwara, Egbetokun noted that the official inauguration ceremony signals the commencement of the implementation of the novel Conference Project aimed at preventing juvenile crime and promoting the positive development of young people in Nigeria.

“To deliver this Conference Project in Nigerian society, there will be a need for collaboration with different extra-familial institutions like government at all levels and their agencies, the church, the school, and the media. So, I implore you all, as members of this Steering Committee, to ensure that you take this assignment very seriously, so as to deliver positive outcomes that will help to arrest the ugly trend of juvenile crime in our country.

“To this end, I must say that this assignment requires utmost commitment from each of you to work together towards achieving a common goal—the goal of helping parents instil positive values in their young children,” he said.

According to the Police Chief, the Conference Project is designed to be held annually across all states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the governments of states to host the conference in their respective states, particularly those with a high risk of juvenile offence incidents.

“I charge you to get your act together and ensure that you deliver the very important Conference Project to Nigeria for the benefit of families and children of our country before the end of the first quarter of the year 2025,” he added.

On his part, Executive Director of the Centre for Family Peace, Chinedum Ikogwe, who lamented the level of neglect of families across the country, noted that the country will have a national policy on juvenile crime prevention and juvenile counselling centres in public schools after the conference.

He added: “You will agree with me that there is a serious issue in our society because the family is neglected. In the Western world, family is the key. In Nigeria, we don’t talk much about the children, the family. So, this program is going to bring the debate on our children.”