Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Lagos State Police Command has launched a campaign against political and digital thuggery as part of efforts to strengthen police-youth relations and curb youth involvement in criminal activities.
The campaign was launched alongside a Police-Youth Dialogue held in Lagos to commemorate International Youth Day 2026, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebesi, the programme was organised in line with the initiative and directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
Adebesi said the initiative was designed to promote responsible citizenship and sensitise young people against political thuggery, digital thuggery and other forms of criminality.
The event, held at the POWA Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, Lagos, brought together representatives of sister security agencies, youth organisations, student bodies, transport unions, community policing groups and the media.
Participating security agencies included the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, 651 Base Service Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The dialogue also featured representatives of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, National Youth Service Corps, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, Police Community Relations Committee, National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria and National Association of Online Security News Publishers.
Adebesi said the interactive session provided participants with an opportunity to discuss issues affecting young people, police-youth relations, policing, security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and emerging security concerns.
She said the Command emphasised that while young people operate in different social, economic and cultural contexts, they share common aspirations for a peaceful, secure and prosperous society.
Participants were consequently urged to channel their energy, creativity and influence towards positive development while rejecting violence, intimidation, misinformation and the use of digital platforms for criminal purposes.
The Command also recognised individuals and organisations that have contributed to police-youth relations and community security.
Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State, was honoured with an award as Police-Youth Ambassador.
The heads of NANS, CRAN, NAOSNP and the youth wing of the PCRC were also recognised for their contributions to security, youth engagement, community policing and efforts towards building a safer Lagos.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended participating organisations, youth leaders, security agencies and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
Fatai urged youth leaders, transport unions, student bodies, community organisations, the media and other stakeholders to take ownership of the campaign and continually educate their members on the dangers of political thuggery, cultism, cyber-enabled criminality and violence.
He reiterated that security was a shared responsibility and called on residents, particularly young people, to provide the Police and other security agencies with credible and timely information to assist in preventing crime and maintaining peace across the state.
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