A Professor of Psychology at the Benue State University, (BSU) Makurdi, Professor Josiah Shindi, has called on government at all levels to establish public psychology centres to enable citizens report cases of extreme behaviours with a view of addressing them.
Shindi made this call while speaking to the Next Edition. He was reacting to the bizarre incident which took place in Makurdi last Friday, where a woman killed her husband, her three children and herself.
The Professor of Psychology said such centres will help the public come in and speak out on the strange and aggressive behaviours of people living around them such that those involved can get help.
“Government should have centres where people can come and express their fears in situations around their vicinity. It is not to psychologically police the society but to rather checkmate and reduce the psychological trauma that people go through,” he said.
Shindi who blamed the death of the family on the society said many people are suffering around us and everyone looks the other way.
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“The blame game will not help anyone but I blame the society. We heard the woman used to go out and lock up the children in the room but nobody reported it till now.
“People with such behaviours need to be watched. If children are being locked up, the police needs to know and employ the services of the psychologist. Any aggression that leads to such acts needs the help of psychologist.
He called on the public to report to the police anyone with extreme behaviour so as to save the life of others.
“Reporting such cases is not vendetta but if someone behaves in a way that could be dangerous or harmful to others, they should be committed where they can get help,” he added.
The University Don said it was unfortunate that the laws establishing the Nigerian police has made them handicapped. According to him the police should be acquainted with areas of forensic psychology which is concerned with the “why” of a crime.
He also appealed to the federal government to build the capacity of the Nigerian police to investigate not only what has happened but why such things are happening.