The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), OON, has challenged criminologists and security experts to critically examine the root causes of criminal behaviour in society in order to better understand Why People Take to Crimes, particularly among young people.
Key Highlights
- Asagba of Asaba urges criminologists to investigate why people engage in criminal activities.
- Monarch identifies drug abuse, internet fraud, cultism and other crimes as growing social concerns.
- Calls for data-driven research into the causes of criminal behaviour.
- Questions the influence of peer pressure, family expectations, depression and the desire for quick wealth.
- Advocates stronger collaboration between criminology studies and security agencies.
- Commends Dennis Osadebay University for establishing a Department of Criminology and Security Studies.
The monarch made the call when a delegation of the National Association of Criminology and Security Students (NACSS), Dennis Osadebay University Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
Prof. Azinge noted that criminal activities such as drug abuse, internet fraud, cultism and other forms of criminality continue to have a damaging impact on society and should be thoroughly examined within the framework of criminology to determine the underlying factors driving such behaviour.
According to him, researchers and criminologists must go beyond surface-level observations and investigate whether criminal tendencies are influenced by societal pressures, environmental factors, psychological challenges or prevailing social norms.
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He questioned whether factors such as peer group influence, family pressure, the quest for quick wealth, depression, and social insecurity contribute significantly to criminal behaviour.
“Is it peer group influence? Is it pressure from family? Is it the tendency to get rich quickly? Is it borne out of depression that people become addicted to drugs? These are issues criminology should be able to interrogate,” the monarch said.
He further observed that some young people may resort to cultism due to a lack of self-confidence or a belief that affiliation with secret groups provides protection, influence or a sense of belonging.
The Asagba stressed the importance of empirical research and data collection in understanding crime trends, noting that effective criminological studies must be supported by credible evidence rather than assumptions.
“Things do not just happen. They happen for a reason. A proper understanding of criminal tendencies must be based on data and objective research findings,” he stated.
Prof. Azinge also highlighted the role of the judiciary in criminal justice administration, noting that court judgments and legal records provide valuable insights into patterns of crime, sentencing and recidivism.
He raised concerns about repeat offenders who are sometimes treated as first offenders due to inadequate records, emphasizing the need for stronger criminal justice documentation and information management systems.
The monarch expressed appreciation to the students for bringing to his attention the existence of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies at Dennis Osadebay University.
While describing the programme as a welcome development, he suggested that criminology and security studies should play a more prominent role in shaping security personnel and law enforcement professionals through specialized training in crime prevention and criminal behaviour analysis.
Prof. Azinge encouraged the students to relate their academic training to contemporary societal realities and position themselves as future contributors to crime prevention and security development in Nigeria.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Comrade Michael Egwuatu, explained that the visit was to formally inform the monarch about the establishment of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies at Dennis Osadebay University.
He noted that the department was created from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and appealed for the royal blessings and support of the Asagba as students pursue academic excellence in the field.
The visit underscored the growing importance of criminology and security studies in addressing contemporary security challenges and understanding Why People Take to Crimes in an increasingly complex society.
