The Lagos State Police Command has engaged young people across the state in a campaign against political and digital thuggery as part of activities to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.
The command also held a Police-Youth Dialogue to strengthen relations between young people and the police, promote responsible citizenship and raise awareness about political thuggery, digital thuggery and other forms of criminality.
A statement by the command said the programme, held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Secretariat on Oduduwa Street, Lagos, was organised in line with the initiative and directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The 2026 International Youth Day had the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The event brought together representatives of several security agencies and youth and community organisations, including the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, 651 Base Service Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Beecroft, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Other participants included the Chairperson and members of POWA, the State Coordinator and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) and youths from Police Barracks across the state.
The programme featured an extensive and interactive Police-Youth Dialogue, during which participants discussed issues affecting young people, relations between the police and youths, policing, security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and other emerging security concerns.
“Although young people operate in different social, economic and cultural contexts, they share common aspirations for a peaceful, secure and prosperous society,” the statement said.
Participants were therefore encouraged to use their energy, creativity and influence for positive development and reject violence, intimidation, misinformation and the use of digital platforms for criminal activities.
As part of the programme, the police honoured Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State, for his contribution to police-youth relations and community security.
He was presented 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 support for security, youth engagement, community policing and efforts towards promoting a safer Lagos State.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the participating organisations, youth leaders, security agencies and other stakeholders for their support and participation in the programme.
He called on youth leaders, transport unions, student bodies, community organisations, the media and other stakeholders to take ownership of the campaign and continue to engage their members on the need to shun political thuggery, cultism, cyber-enabled criminality and other forms of violence.
The commissioner reiterated that security was a shared responsibility and urged residents, particularly young people, to support the police and other security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could help prevent crime and maintain peace across Lagos State.
