AKH-TRACADA urges Anambra govt. to rehabilitate juvenile offenders

Anti-Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse Initiative (AKH-TRACADA), a Non Governmental organisation (NGO) has called on Anambra government to take immediate action to rehabilitate children of juvenile offences.

The Executive Director and Founder of the NGO, Mr Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ezeanyaeche, who was reacting to a trending video of nine children apprehended for various crimes in Anambra, attributed the children’s involvement in crime to a combination of factors.

The director said that the children were arrested for various crimes like burglary, theft, drug abuse and robbery.

He noted that the factors that led to crimes committed include broken homes, lack of parental guidance, peer pressure, idleness, drug abuse among others.

” The crucial role parents play in shaping their children’s behaviour and character is important to law and order in the society.

“The foundation of discipline is laid in the home, where parents teach their children right from wrong,” Ezeanyaeche said.

He, however lamented the trend of parents outsourcing discipline to institutions, such as schools and law enforcement agencies.

” The children’s situation is a ticking time bomb that requires urgent attention to prevent them from becoming hardened criminals.

“If nothing is done, in five years, these kids won’t just be robbing shops; they will be robbing banks and will be potential candidates for militants and terrorist groups,” he warned.

Ezeanyaeche said that a multi-faceted approach which includes immediate rehabilitation and skill training to equip the children with vocational skills to break the cycle of crime should be adopted

“There is need for community-based parental mentorship programme to provide guidance and support to the children and Strict anti-drug action in hotspots to cut off the supply chain of illicit substances.

“Also, schools to ensure the children receive proper education and training while, engagement in sports and productive activities to channel the children’s energy positively is required,”he said.

He emphasised that the state government, parents, and the community must work together to address the root causes of children’s involvement in crime.

Ezeanyaeche added that no institution could replace a parent’s guidance, stressing that parents must take ownership of their role as first teachers.

He encouraged parents to be actively involved in their children’s lives, teaching them values and discipline that would shape their future.

“The onus is on us to alert the right agencies before this crime incubation center matures into a full-blown crisis.

“This can be done by taking immediate action to prevent the children from becoming hardened criminals and ensure a safer future for all,”he said.