Engage psychologists in tackling crime, govt urged

The Nigerian Psychological Association has told the government to apply psychological principles to tackle crimes.

Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the NPA’s National Congress and Scientific Conference held at the Lagos State University, Ojo, the chairman on the occasion, Prof. Andrew Zamani, who is the immediate past NPA president, said by training, psychologists knew how human beings behave, saying the inputs of the experts were necessary to stem crimes and criminal acts in the society.

The three-day conference was titled, ‘Psychology, security and sustainable development.’

“The works of psychologists are vital to understanding why people behave in certain ways, why some go into crime.

“Psychological inputs are needed in stemming crimes and also helping to develop the generations coming behind,” he said.

The current NPA President, Prof. Olukayode Afolabi, said the lack of the use of psychology in the country’s security architecture was a major hindrance to the fight against insecurity.

Afolabi said, “The way out is to apply psychological principles that will help us tackle the menace.

“We must apply the principles in the recruitment, training, and re-training of our security personnel. It is the absence of psychologists in these areas that has led to a situation whereby criminals are recruited into our security agencies, “ Afolabi opined.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,  Mudashiru Obasa, who was the Guest Speaker, noted that the threat to Nigeria’s internal security was very real.

Obasa, who was represented by Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions, Mr Victor Akande, noted that Nigerians were losing faith in the nation’s security apparatus, adding that it could lead to self-help which would only aggravate the situation.

The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by the Deputy VC, Administration, Prof. Adenike Boyo, said without understanding how people think and behave, taming crimes and insecurity would be impossible.