“When Okrika no get chiefs, things been better small, now wey we don get plenty chiefs, war canoe houses and families everywhere, Okrika just dey anyhow.”

These were the words of an aggrieved indigene of Okrika, who only identified herself as Ibiorubo, in a chat with Kristina Reports in Okrika, saying that societal values and cultural ethos of the communities are being eroded.

She regretted that the deplorable rate of youth irresponsibility is as a result of the authorities’ failure to take actions against defaulters.

“As e dey now, na stealing nai dey reign, even for daylight sef dem dey come your house thief. No security, no vigilante, even when you finally catch the thief, dem go even dey defend themselves say them get who dey back them up.”

“Inside store, shop, house, even for church dem dey thief. Wetin dey pain me pass na be say we get alapu for okrika, and yet things dey this bad, e no good.”

Adding his voice, a resident of Okrika, Idorenyin Saviour told Kristina Reports that the rate of stealing is on the increase and the authorities are just folding their arms and doing nothing about it, noting that the situation has worsened since she came to Okrika 22 years ago.

“The people who steal don’t care the results of the action they take, they don’t mind breaking into your house even in the day time and even when you catch them, they will claim they are indigenes.”

Saviour also related to Kristina Reports that parents play a huge part in defending their erring youths rather than rebuke.

“I sent my child to buy airtime, he came back crying that someone took the recharge card from him, when I went to tell the parents, they started shouting, insulting and abusing me.”

She maintains that the authorities should put in efforts to ensure that the security is stable so as to curb the menace

Also in a chat with Kristina Reports, a petty trader, Charity Peacemaker said the reason for all of this misbehaviour is because of lack of employment and hardship.

“The reason people are going into stealing is because of hardship in the country, no money to buy food, pay bills, rents, and even school fees.”

“People are looking for how to feed and manage their homes. If our leaders and chiefs can actually create employment for these youth, the situation can be arrested.”