By LUCY OSUIZIGBO-OKECHUKWU

The Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), a civil society organisation has decried the upsurge in social vices and violent crimes in different part of Anambra.

Mr Nonso Orakwe, Executive Director, CATYCOI, expressed displeasure in Awka on Friday at a forum tagged “Civic Participation, Peace Building and Security among Youths in Anambra.”

The programme was supported by LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Futures Fund.

Orakwe said that social vices and violent crimes such as sexual and drug abuse, killing, armed robbery and cultism had become a source of concern because of their increasing rate.

“This gathering is to harness opinion and proffer solutions on how to better engage the youths, so that youths can be a solution in the society rather than the problem.

“We need to engage the youths, make them participate in governance, so we can have a peaceful and secured society.

“Economic development and prosperity can only thrive in a peaceful and secured environment,” Orakwe said.

He called for urgent measures to address the menace as residents now lived in fear and slept with their eyes open.

Also speaking, Mrs Ify Unachukwu of Care Trust Development Initiative lamented the get-rich-quick syndrome and the culture of quick fixes that was prevalent among youths in the state.

“Our youths are now indulging in idolatry and ritualism to become rich.

“Girls are now endangered species as these boys now harass them to collect their underwear for rituals.

“Government and stakeholders need to intensify social orientation across communities.

“There is also the need for quick dispensation of justice to punish criminals and to deter others,” she said.

Mr Casmir Ugochukwu, Youth Leader, Awka South Local Government Area, said that the major cause of insecurity in the state was unemployment.

“Our youths engage in criminal activities because there is unemployment.

“Government must prioritise youth empowerment to reduce crime rate,” Ugochukwu said.

Also, Mrs Ify Chijioke of the National Orientation Agency said that youth restiveness was a major challenge in Anambra.

Chijioke said that the agency embarked on sensitisation in schools and tertiary institutions in the state to drive value reorientation.

Earlier, Mr Israel Orji, Programme Officer, CATYCOI, identified advocacy visits to security agencies, religious and traditional rulers as well as sensitisation in schools and tertiary institutions as approaches to influence attitudes and social behaviour. (NAN)

•Stakeholders forum on Civic Participation, Peace Building and Security among Youths in Anambra

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