STREET URCHINS, THE BEDROCK OF CRIMINALITY

DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF STREET CHILDREN IN CALABAR METROPOLIS

ESSIEN OKU ESSIEN

ARISE CROSS RIVER PROJECT; MANN FOUNDATION, NG
 ABSTRACT
The widespread extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan African countries, and in this context, Nigeria, has been
cited as a primary driving force behind the region's myriad societal problems. The current economic and
social conditions makes it difficult for families to provide basic needs including food, clothing, and shelter.
As a result of the dysfunctional family's inability to provide for its members, many children and young
adults have been forced to take matters into their own hands by taking to the streets in search of food and
support. Every day, it turns out that this problem gets worse, thus, it is crucial to draw out a sustainable
resolution to it. In light of these considerations, the challenges of the street children phenomenon in
Calabar are the primary focus of this presentation, to relate how the growth of this contributes to the
development of child and teenage criminals. With data gathered from a quantitative survey and focus
group discussion approaches, it is found out that some of the street chaps are well vested with good basic
skills but the laxity in the implementation of the 2003 Child Right Act by the federal government has left
them far unreached and unprotected.
 INTRODUCTION
The twenty-first century presents a hostile face to many millions of children in
many African countries. An increasing number of children are being forced to
the streets as result of poverty, abuse, torture, rape abandonment or orphaned
by AIDS. Human rights violations against children have become a common and
disturbing occurrence in many African countries. Denial of basic human and
legal rights including the right to life, liberty and security as a person to children
are now a defining feature of the African socio-economic landscape. We contend
that the problem of street children remains an ignored tragedy and is set to
have a devastating impact on the development of African counties.
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
Children with ties to the street are at risk of being sexually abused, coerced into a
life of crime, trafficked, and forced to fend for themselves by begging, stealing,
and other forms of petty crime. Many of them find a 'surrogate family' in a street
gang, which can be a welcome refuge from the dangers of the outside world and
a source of stability and support. Unfortunately, these groups also often expose
kids to crime and drugs. The stresses of homelessness, abuse, neglect, disease,
hunger, stigma, and discrimination might lead some youngsters with street ties
to turn to substance abuse.
 REVIEWS
The multiplier effect of street children in Nigeria, where various
types of unrest have persisted, has definitely outwitted manageable
arithmetic progression, writ large in light of the devastating effects
of wars, political upheavals, and insurgencies all over the world,
especially in Africa, and with the symbolic case reference to the
unprecedented religious/political confusion and debasement of
Boko Haram insurgence in Nigeria (Afolabi, 2013).
Source: www.africaexponent.com
As a result of family and community disorganisation brought on by the
activities of the religious bandits encouraged and motivated by political
manipulators, the number of street children estimated to be living in Nigeria
has historically posed a threat to the people and government there, and this
must have violated statistical regularity for acceptable data management
(Akpama and Inaja, 2006). The terrible insurgents' actions have a
disproportionately negative impact on women and children, who are often
forced to flee their homes and live on the streets, increasing the number of
Nigeria's homeless youth (Ahmed, 2018).
 SURVEYS
29

Male

Axis Title
Female
6

A totalSampled
number Children
of 35 street chaps were sampled, data chart presents 22 male and 13 female
Axis Title

15
15 6-8 years
11 9-11years
10 12-14years
6
15-17years
4
5

0
Sampled Children
Data Chart shows that majority of the chaps covered in the study are within the age range of 12-
14 years old with the least as adolescents.
 16
14 Non Educated

Axis Title
Primary

5 Secondary

Sampled Children
Data Chart shows that majority of the street chaps are barely educated with only 5 of the
Axis Title
sampled as secondary school dropouts

12
0-6 months
8 8
Axis Title

7 <1year
>1year
Undecided

Sampled Children
Data Chart shows that most ofAxis
the sampled chaps have spent over 1 year on the streets already
Title
 22

Sexual Abuse

Axis Title
Domestic Violence

6 Poverty
4 3 Undecided

Sampled Children
Data Chart shows that majority of the street chaps are victims of domestic violence
Axis Title

14
13

Yes
8
Axis Title

No
Undecided
Column1

Sampled Children
Data Chart shows that majority ofTitle
Axis the sampled chaps do not want to reunite with their families
 FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
A brief discussion with the sampled chaps portrays the following findings as relevant to this
advocacy;
• It was found out that over the years of their presence on the streets, they have fed
themselves through means of begging, garbage bins excavations and through menial jobs
performed for residents in and around the neighbourhood.

• It was found out that few of the female chaps identified in the group were somewhat skilful
in braiding and basic sewing, while a few male chap identified that they have a fair
knowledge in bricks moulding.

• It was found out during the discussion that all of them wants to gain mastery in advance
skills in order to earn a better standard of living in the society.
 DISCUSSION
Street children, despite their cultural distinctions, are a global phenomena. Social
prejudice against street children is pervasive in Calabar, Cross River State. These kids
are considered to be a danger to everyone's safety. Every community needs a robust
protection system that safeguards everyone if children are to be better treated.
Because it appears that many people bypass the system currently. Organizations,
the government, and human rights advocacy groups all strongly concur on the need
to address this issue with regard to street children. As a result, they ought to be
involved in developing an effective defence system. Since many street kids originate
from homes with inadequate housing circumstances and structural disadvantages,
there needs to be sustainable housing options.
 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
To stop the exponential growth of criminal tendencies and social vices
brought into our society by youngsters living on the streets, it is
imperative that all members of society actively participate in their
appropriate duties. This topic warrants ongoing evaluation, analysis, and
discourse since it affects such a wide swath of society in a negative way.
Although the Child Rights Act was passed in 2003, the Federal
Government has made no real effort to implement the Act to the Child's
full benefit in Nigeria.
 CALL TO ACTION
1. Implement and advocate for the child right
act today

2. It is imperative that national budgets

account for funding for non-profits and
advocacy groups working to protect the
rights of children.

3. Provision of decent and comfortable

housing conditions will raise the standard
of living in the state today