By Monday Agbonika
Investigations carried out in some parts of Lagos State showed that members of the community are troubled over fighting among youths. They are also worried about youths trading and ingesting of hard drugs.
Fighting among youths has been linked to drugs, populated areas and environment. People living in areas that are violence prone, are most likely low income earners, with about 10 to 15 persons sometimes living in one single room.
In these kinds of situation, tempers are likely to rise and often lead to altercations, which result in fights that can lead to serious injuries and even death.
Also most of the murder cases recorded can be traced to situations arising from such incidents. Findings also showed that the problem of fighting among youths usually occurs at night. Last month, at least seven people were killed on the Lagos Island, when youths from two streets clashed. One of those killed was a polytechnic graduate, who was just about to resume at his new place of appointment. He was killed not too far from his home. He was not even part of those fighting.
On October 11, in spite of the presence of Special Anti-
Robbery Squad (SARS) and Lagos State Special Taskforce on special offences on Lagos Island, another youth identified as Ike (Plastic) was shot dead by rival group from Onola area of the Island.
Causes of street fights
Some of the causes of street fights are unemployment, drugs, school drop, upbringing, peer pressure, amongst others.
The drug connection also, cannot be over looked. Drug related crimes followed closely behind fighting. There is always a clear connection between the use of drugs and crime.
Many youths engage in the use of illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana and commit crime when they are under its influence.
Drug joints also serve as meeting points for hoodlums. Organised crime syndicates use such joints for the recruitment of new members.
Some of the drugs are addictive so that those that are addicted need rehabilitation and psychiatric help.
This group of persons usually constitute nuisance to the community. You find them loitering around, looking for any means of getting money to buy drugs.
Checking youth fighting in community
The traditional rulers / royal fathers, religious leaders (Pastors, Imams and representatives of CAN), Chairman PCRC, Chairman Parents Teachers Association, Agege Local Government Chairman, Community Development Associations (CDA), CDC, Hoteliers, Industrialists, Landlord Associations, Youth Associations, known Illicit drug dealers, Higher Institution administrators, elected representatives of the people, must be involved in becoming controlling influence in the lives of youths in their communities. They have to identify the problems and tackle them.
Effects
*If nothing is done to check streets fights
*We’re going to continue to have gangsters
* We shall have more gang wars
* The death toll will continue to surge
* More brilliant future leaders will continue to be buried
* Those survived, might never respect the sanctity of human lives
* Nobody will ever feel safe in our streets.
First Published 2017
