Al-Hikmah University Journal

This study examined peer pressure, drug abuse, social dominance and gang membership as predictors of involvement in political violence among street urchins in Lagos metropolis, Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Three hundred and eighty-seven (387) street urchins randomly selected from the four areas of Lagos metropolis (Oshodi, Mushin, Lagos Island and Ijora) were participants for the study. They responded to a self-report questionnaire containing standardised scales. Data was analysed using frequency, Mean, Standard Deviation, t-test and PPMC at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that gang involvement, social dominance and peer pressure jointly predicted political violence (R2 = 0.63, F (3,384) = 23.18, p < .01).  It was also found that gang involvement, drug abuse, social dominance and peer pressure all had significant relationship with political violence among street urchins in Lagos metropolis, and that street urchins with high dominance orientation tend to be involved in political violence more than street urchins with low dominance orientation. It was also found that each of peer pressure (β=.82; t= 12.98, p< 0.01); and social dominance (β= .57; t = 10.66, p< 0.05) had significant relative contribution to the prediction of political violence. Recommendations include that; vocational guidance should be given a place of priority as street urchins these days do not have the prerequisite qualification for most available employments, hence the temptation to engage in anti-social behaviour such as political violence. Useful suggestions for further studies were also offered.