Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has made a passionate appeal for increased parental control and supervision as a strategy to curb juvenile delinquency and reduce the rising number of crimes committed by underage suspects.
Kpebu, who represented the second accused in the Kasoa ritual killing, Nicholas Kini, who was 18 at the time of the incident, indicated that most cases involving juveniles are often a result of a lack of parental control and guidance.
Kpebu’s comments were made in connection with the tragic Kasoa ritual killing case, where two young men were convicted for their involvement in the brutal murder of a 10-year-old boy.
The two suspects were found guilty of both murder and conspiracy to commit murder and were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday, October 24.
Reflecting on the case during an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News with host Umaru Sanda Amadu, Kpebu expressed concern over the lack of effective parental involvement in the upbringing of children.
He stressed that the root cause of juvenile crime often stems from insufficient parental supervision, which leaves children vulnerable to negative influences.
“Parents need to up their game and we are talking about cases where parents are not able to give their full attention to their children.
“Parental control is a huge challenge due to workload and issues of control become a challenge for a lot of parents. It is not talking much but paying attention”
He emphasised that the problem has been exacerbated by the pressures many parents face in modern society. He acknowledged that the demands of work and other responsibilities often leave parents struggling to find time to adequately monitor and guide their children.
However, Kpebu was clear in dismissing the notion that poverty alone is to blame for the rise in juvenile crimes.
He acknowledged that economic hardship plays a significant role in the challenges many families face, but he cautioned against oversimplifying the issue by attributing juvenile delinquency solely to poverty.
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Kasoa ritual killing: One suspect sentenced to life in prison
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