Children under threat

The growing menace of juvenile delinquency has once again come into sharp focus, with disturbing reports surfacing from Dimapur and beyond. While some accounts appear in social media and others in traditional press, together they paint a grim picture of a phenomenon that is no longer sporadic but increasingly entrenched in society-the involvement of underage children in acts of violence, crime, and moral decay once thought to be the domain of adults. In recent months, there have been shocking stories of gangs composed of teenagers-many still in school uniforms-engaging in brutal violence, bullying, and other deviant behaviour. A particularly jarring video circulated on social media showed a group of schoolchildren mercilessly thrashing two peers. The transformation of these seemingly innocent students by day into violent aggressors by night evokes a chilling Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde parallel. This duality underscores how fragile the thin veneer of normalcy has become among some young people. This newspaper had, some years ago, reported the worrying trend of barely teenaged children skipping classes and frequenting shady drinking joints even in their uniforms. Today, the situation appears to have worsened. Reports abound of barely teenaged girls frequenting late-night discos, many of which act as fronts for teenage flesh trade. Equally troubling are accounts of young boys and girls falling prey to pimps and organized crime syndicates-trapped either to fund their drug habits or to sustain a lifestyle far beyond their means. What can be observed in all these is the emergence of a dangerous underworld, operating in plain sight, reflecting the existence of two cities: one that sleeps, and another that prowls at night. The rise in juvenile delinquency cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents. It is a social crisis in the making. Broken families, dysfunctional homes, poor parenting, and the erosion of traditional values are breeding grounds for this destructive trend. When the foundations of nurturing and discipline crumble, the vacuum is quickly filled by influences that thrive on exploiting youthful vulnerability. What is taking shape is a generation fractured in values and spirit-potentially dangerous not just to themselves but to society at large. The warning signs are already visible across social media and everyday life. Yet, the larger community response remains muted. To ignore the issue is to hasten the disintegration of our social fabric. The threat is no longer distant; it is here, confronting society with urgency. Authorities, schools, parents, and community leaders must collectively act before this menace spirals further out of control. Juvenile delinquency is not simply about wayward children; it is a reflection of systemic neglect-of homes, institutions, and communities. To counter it requires a holistic response: strengthening family structures, fostering value-based education, curbing exploitative nightlife, and providing young people with positive spaces to channel their energy. Without such intervention, society risks raising a generation shaped not by hope and responsibility, but by crime and despair. The writing on the wall is clear. The question is whether society will read it in time.The threat is not coming-it has already arrived. The shocking incidents reported today are only the beginning of a larger storm waiting to engulf society.