EVALUATION OF DELINQUENCY AMONG STREET CHILDREN IN THE BENIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The Benin Metropolis has a unique social configuration rooted in ancient Benin culture, and a unique economic outlook tied to massive migrants’ remittances, but the growing spread of street vagrants in the metropolis is gaining increasing public attention and concern. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to examine the factors responsible for proliferation of street vagrant or children. . This is despite the fact that virtually all street children are seen to be involved in one form of economic engagement or the other. However, what engenders their increasing delinquency is empirically not known, and lacuna exists. To this end, to ascertain the causes of the increase of criminal activities among street vagrants becomes pertinent. The overriding objective of this study is to evaluate the delinquency of street children/vagrants in the Benin Metropolis. These specific objectives were to: examine the factors responsible for proliferation of street vagrant or children, ascertain the causes of the increase of delinquent activities among street vagrants, determine the level at which delinquent activities of street vagrants threatens societal security, and investigate the existence and nature of government’s policy and programmes for street vagrants.