The Lagos State Police Command has launched its Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026, themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The campaign, launched in line with the initiative and directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, was designed to strengthen Police-Youth relations, promote responsible citizenship and sensitise young people against political and digital thuggery and other forms of criminality.
The launch, held at the POWA Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, Lagos, also featured an interactive Police-Youth Dialogue attended by heads and representatives of sister security agencies, youth organisations, student bodies, community groups and the media.
Among those represented were the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army; 651 Base Service Group, Nigerian Air Force; Nigerian Navy, Beecroft; NDLEA; FRSC; NSCDC; Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA); 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); NURTW; RTEAN; Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN); National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), as well as youths from police barracks across the state.
The Police-Youth Dialogue provided participants with an opportunity to discuss issues affecting young people, police-youth relations, policing, security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and other emerging security concerns.
The Command emphasised that although young people operate within 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 while rejecting violence, intimidation, misinformation and the use of digital platforms for criminal purposes.
In recognition of contributions to Police-Youth relations and community security, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State, Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, was honoured as Police-Youth Ambassador.
The Command also recognised the heads of NANS, CRAN, NAOSNP and the youth wing of the PCRC for their 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 the participating organisations, youth leaders, security agencies and other stakeholders for supporting the campaign.
Fatai called on youth leaders, transport unions, student bodies, community organisations, the media and other stakeholders to take ownership of the campaign and sustain engagement with 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 to assist in preventing crime and maintaining peace across Lagos State.