SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND ECOLOGICAL PUSH/PULL AS SUSTAINING FACTORS INTO YOUTH GANG VIOLENCE IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The reoccurrence decimal of violent activities among the youth is a global concern because of the negating contributive indexes associated with the menace. The ever-increasing nature of youth involvement in violent activities had contributed to fear and tension among mankind which has negate effect in socioeconomic and political development. Extant literature was adopted to shed insight to submissions of scholars with the use of ecological theory by Shaw and Mckay. Mixed method was adopted while 347 of the sample size for the quantitative data were selected among inmates in Ikoyi and Kirikiri correctional facilities using Taro Yemane sample size formula 36 qualitative data were collected from gang members, correctional warders, community elders, police officers and vigilantes using key informant and in-depth interviews in Lagos. The study concluded that ecological characteristics (B=0.094; t=4.010; P<0.05) and community policing practice (B = 0.006; t =0.216; P > 0.05). play significant role influencing youths’ involvement in gang violent activities while sociodemographic characteristics (B=1.100; t=62.027; P<0.05) does not influence youth gang violent activities. The composite contribution of the independent variables predicts gang violence at 0.05% of the total variance as the predictors of gang violence (R=0.973, r-square =0.947, Adjusted R square =0.947; F3.348=2044.697. The youth should engage in creativity rather wasting time on joining negating activities, family social network bonding system should be encouraged to ensure and restore societal value, the governmental agents and nongovernmental organizations should encourage development of entrepreneurship programmes to bring out hidden potential of the youths   Keywords- Sociodemographic, Ecological, Community Policing practice, youth gang violence