Why Youths Are Turning Criminals – Prison Official

The get-rich-quick syndrome has been identified as one of the reasons behind the indulgence of numerous Nigerian youths in criminal activities.

The Assistant Superintendent of Correctional Service 1, Odus Sammy Muffy, disclosed this to THE WHISTLER in an exclusive chat.

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Sammy Muffy said a lot of young people no longer wait for God’s time or due process but want immediate satisfaction; this, according to him, ensnares them into various evil schemes.

“Children of early twenties now want to drive the latest cars and live in the best apartment; this mindset will push them into crimes such as internet fraud and scam.

He also said that the family is to blame for the happenings in the society, adding that a properly raised child cannot become wayward in life.

“Moral decadence in our society is primarily linked to family values and the society is the outcome of what a family upbringing looks like.

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“A well-trained child in the family cannot become a nuisance in the society; so, let’s start to look at our family values,” he said.

Muffy also said that parents who do not follow up on their children’s activities as well as correct them when they err are simply aiding them to become full blown criminals.

“Gone are those days when integrity use to be people’s watchword; now, when a person comes home with riches beyond his or her financial income, their parent don’t ask questions and some of them even encourage their children to seek greener pasture where it does not exist,” he said.

He also said that unnecessary display of wealth in the society and on social media is luring people to crime.

“Many youths want to be like celebrities or elites whose sources of income are not known to them,” he added.

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He added that negligence by Nigerian politicians and the absence of an enabling environment have created a platform for crime to thrive in the country.

He said that most leaders who benefitted from free Western education are not replicating the same for this generation of young people as education is now expensive.

He stressed that most parents who cannot afford to train their children in school are left at the mercy of God because most political leaders focus on themselves and their families thereby leaving the ordinary man to cater for himself.

“What are they doing for their constituencies? They would rather get their own generating plants and private guards instead of providing power and security; and the youths have to look for how to take care of themselves thereby venturing into crime.

“There is no enabling environment for people to thrive and realize their potentials in the country, and the primary aim of the government is to provide security and welfare,” he said.

He further advised youths to chose God fearing leaders during elections.

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“Nigerians should not allow their votes to be bought, they should vote politicians who have their interest at heart.”

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