Benue State University, Makurdi

LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND CRIMINALITY AMONG YOUTHS IN JOS METROPOLIS

Asan, Joseph Kum; Taminu, Aminu Nuhu and Anongo, Fredrick Sonter

Abstract

Youth criminality is increasingly becoming a serious and unbearable situation in Nigeria, but little is known about some of the crucial factors responsible for it. In this research, we examined level of education and criminal behaviour among youths in Jos metropolis. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design using simplerandom sampling method to recruit 100 youths who had indulged in various acts of criminality within Jos metropolis. A questionnaire containing measures of demographics (which includes level of education) and Criminal Behavior Scale (CBS) were utilized to collect data. One hypothesis was formulated and tested using One-way Analysis of Variance at p<.05 level of significance. Results indicated that criminal behaviours exhibited by the youths in Jos metropolis varies as with their level of educational attainment (F (2,98)= 10.88 p? .05). Further results on the variations revealed that youths with the least educational qualification (i.e. primary school level) committed higher crimes (X¯=19.41; SD= 5.32) compared to those who have secondary (X¯= 15.10; SD= 4.83) and tertiary education (X¯=13.20; SD= 4.03). These results imply that youths criminality varies across their educational level and those with the least education tend to indulge more in crime. Therefore, government and other stakeholders to provide educational and employment opportunities of the youths, especially those with elementary education so as to tame criminality in Jos and Nigeria in general.

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