CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN GANGS (KAURAYE) IN KATSINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KATSINA STATE

The study assesses the Causes and Consequences of Urban Gang. Available literatures on the concept of Urban Gang as well as the strategic solutions of combating them were viewed. For the theoretical framework, Differncial association theory was used in the study. Regarding the methodology used in study, survey research design was used and the information was generated using questionnaire and in-depth interview. The data generated from these sources was analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22) and it was presented on frequency distribution tables and percentage. In view of the findings of the study, it can be summarize as follows: Findings of the study from both the quantitative and qualitative data shows that majority of the respondents revealed males are more constantly engage in urban gang than females, and among the male’s, youth are the higher patronizing urban gang than the adults, similarly, the finding also demonstrate that, members of the society are highly facilitating problems of urban gang. The Findings from the quantitative data also revealed poor family socialization has significant effect in pushing individual to commit criminal act and specifically engage in urban gang, illiteracy is also among the major factors that influence youth to engage in urban gang, the study revealed that the major causes of urban gang consist of poverty, peer influence, unemployment, and moral decadence. Both the qualitative and quantitative data shows that majority of the respondents are on the view that provision of job opportunities, proper law enforcement and poverty alleviation programs, can serve as a solution to urban gang, other solutions include government policies and programs, similar it is also found that all law enforcement should participate in order to deals with urban gang. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were given; Parents should show love and affection to their children, they should make good provision for their food, clothing and shelter, put them under strict and proper supervision take care of their educational responsibilities and train them in line with the norms values of the society. Government should consider to emphasize on the issue of unemployment, poverty, and insecurity they should formulate programmes create more jobs and opportunities enhance more productivity and efficiency through agriculture and stabilizing industrialization.