Lagos Police Launch Campaign Against Political, Digital Thuggery
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Lagos State Police Command has launched a campaign against political and digital thuggery as part of efforts to strengthen police-youth relations and promote responsible citizenship among young people across the state.
The initiative was launched alongside a Police-Youth Dialogue held to commemorate International Youth Day 2026, themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The programme, held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Secretariat on Oduduwa Street, Lagos, was organised in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
It brought together representatives of various security agencies, youth organisations, student bodies, transport unions, community groups and the media.
Among those represented were the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, 651 Base Service Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, FRSC and NSCDC. Also present were representatives of 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) and National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The programme featured an interactive dialogue between police authorities and young people, allowing participants to discuss issues surrounding policing, security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and emerging security threats.
The Command stressed that despite the different social, economic and cultural circumstances in which young people operate, they share common aspirations for a peaceful, secure and prosperous society.
Participants were consequently encouraged to use their energy, creativity and influence positively while rejecting violence, intimidation, misinformation and the use of digital platforms for criminal activities.
The event also recognised individuals and organisations contributing to stronger police-youth relations and community security.
Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, 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 creating a safer Lagos.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the participating security agencies, youth leaders, organisations and other stakeholders for supporting the programme.
Fatai urged youth leaders, student bodies, transport unions, community organisations and the media to take ownership of the campaign by continuously sensitising their members against political thuggery, cultism, cyber-enabled criminality and other forms of violence.
He reiterated that security remained a shared responsibility and called on residents, particularly young people, to provide the police and other security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist in preventing crime and maintaining peace across Lagos.
The campaign is expected to deepen engagement between the police and young people while promoting responsible participation in civic and political activities across the state.
