The Osun State Police Command has called on Nigerian youths to reject political and digital thuggery, stressing that their future is more valuable than violence, manipulation and exploitation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, made the appeal on Saturday at a stakeholders’ summit organised to mark International Youth Day 2026.
Gotan, who was represented by the Osogbo Area Commander, ACP Temitope Adewumi, said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, had approved the nationwide observance of Nigeria Police International Youth Day 2026 under the National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative.
The initiative is aligned with the United Nations theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
According to the commissioner, the Nigeria Police Force had also introduced a nationwide campaign tagged “My Future is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery” to discourage political violence, electoral thuggery, online manipulation and the exploitation of young Nigerians.
He explained that the campaign was built around five key areas: leadership, security, innovation and enterprise, responsible citizenship, and digital responsibility.
“These pillars are not just words on paper. They are the practical tools that will help you reject the destructive path of thuggery. The campaign covered both physical violence during elections and online attacks, hate speech and manipulation,” he said.
Gotan urged young people not to trade their future for temporary financial rewards offered for political violence or use social media platforms to spread false information and damage people’s reputations.
He assured the youths that the police would continue to support and protect them while partnering with them to promote responsible leadership.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to standing with you, protecting you, and partnering with you. The police were not only responsible for enforcing the law but also for supporting the emergence of responsible leaders,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, alleged that some of the difficulties confronting Nigeria were deliberately created by the political elite to make young people vulnerable to manipulation.
Lawal encouraged youths to prioritise their lives and future over the political interests of individuals and resist attempts to divide or exploit them.
The Osogbo Area Commander, ACP Temitope Adewumi, also highlighted the importance of education, urging young people to pursue both formal and informal learning as a means of improving their prospects.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Bajulaye Victor, said the programme offered youths an opportunity to focus on their aspirations. He warned that political thuggery could ruin lives, while digital thuggery could damage a person’s reputation and character.
Victor said CAN was prepared to collaborate with the police and urged youths not to allow money or political interests to derail their future.
“CAN was ready to partner with the police and urged youths to reject attempts to use money or political interests to compromise their future. Your future is bigger than ballots and destiny greater than data.”
The Osun State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Olakolupo Segun, commended the police for organising the programme and called for sustained neutrality from the force to build greater trust among young people.
He also appealed to the police to engage with and rehabilitate unorganised youths through dialogue and other constructive measures.
The Salu of Edunabon, Oba Adesoji Oladapo, praised Osun youths for their conduct during the August 15 election and urged them to resist being recruited as political thugs.
He encouraged young people to remain focused on becoming productive and responsible members of society.
BACKSTORY:
The call comes as the Nigeria Police Force intensifies efforts to engage young Nigerians on issues surrounding leadership, security and responsible citizenship.
The Osun State Police Command made the appeal during a stakeholders’ summit held to commemorate International Youth Day 2026. The event was organised under the Nigeria Police Force’s National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative, which seeks to promote positive engagement between young people and security agencies.
At the summit, the police introduced the campaign “My Future is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery,” focusing on the dangers of electoral violence, political manipulation, hate speech, online attacks and the exploitation of youths for political interests.
Police authorities encouraged young people to prioritise education, innovation, responsible citizenship and legitimate opportunities rather than allow themselves to be used to cause violence or spread harmful content online.
The initiative also comes amid broader concerns over youth involvement in political violence and the misuse of digital platforms for misinformation and character attacks.
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