CITIZENS COMPASS— The Lagos State Police Command has launched the Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery just as they held a Police-Youth Dialogue in commemoration of International Youth Day 2026.
The event was with the theme: “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The programme, in line with the initiative and directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, was aimed at strengthening Police-Youth relations, promoting responsible citizenship, and sensitising young people against political thuggery, digital thuggery, and other forms of criminality.
The event, held at the POWA Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, Lagos, brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including heads and representatives of sister security agencies, such as 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army; 651 Base Service Group, Nigerian Air Force; Nigerian Navy, Beecroft; NDLEA; FRSC; and NSCDC. Others included the Chairperson and members of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA); the State Coordinator and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); members of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV); members of 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, providing participants with an opportunity to openly discuss issues affecting young people, Police-Youth relationships, policing, security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery, and other emerging security concerns.
The Command emphasised that although young people operate in different social, economic, and cultural contexts; they share common aspirations for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous society. Participants were therefore encouraged to channel their energy, creativity, and influence towards positive development and reject the use of violence, intimidation, misinformation, and digital platforms for criminal purposes.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to Police-Youth relations and community security, Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State, was honoured and presented with an award as Police-Youth Ambassador. Similarly, the heads of NANS, CRAN, NAOSNP and the youth wing of the PCRC, were recognised for their invaluable support towards security, youth engagement, community policing, and the promotion of a safer Lagos State.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, commended all participating organisations, youth leaders, security agencies, and other stakeholders for their support and participation. He called on youth leaders, transport unions, student bodies, community organisations, the media, and other stakeholders to take ownership of the campaign and continuously engage their members on the need to shun political thuggery, cultism, cyber-enabled criminality, and other forms of violence. He reiterated that security is a shared responsibility and urged residents, particularly young people, to support the Police and other security agencies with credible and timely information that would assist in preventing crime and maintaining peace across the State.
