The Niger State Police Command has urged youths to reject political thuggery, cybercrime and other forms of violence capable of undermining peace and democratic participation in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, made the call on Friday during a Police-Youth Dialogue with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Niger State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Amb. Ishaq Abdullahi, in Minna.
The dialogue, held to mark the 2026 International Youth Day under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” also featured the launch of the campaign, “My Future is Greater than Political Thuggery.”
The youths raised concerns about security, inclusion, crime prevention and electoral peace, while seeking the Police leadership’s involvement in the forthcoming NYCN elections and mediation between the youth body and the state government.
They also proposed Early Warning Election Ambassadors and the engagement of responsible youth leaders to support electoral security and intelligence gathering across the state’s three senatorial districts.
CP Elleman assured the youths of his willingness to mediate between them and the state government, commending their support for the Police Command.
He conveyed the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu’s, warning against allowing politicians to use youths as instruments of violence before, during and after elections.
The CP also urged youth leaders to promote education, positive career choices and responsible citizenship, while cautioning against drug abuse and harmful use of social media.
He particularly warned against digital thuggery, misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, fake news, cyberbullying, cyberstalking and defamation used for political purposes.
A major highlight was the decoration of Amb. Ishaq Abdullahi as the Niger State Police Command Youth Ambassador to strengthen community policing and Police-youth collaboration.
The Command will on Saturday, August 22, hold a walkathon with NYCN members as part of activities to further sensitise youths against political thuggery and other social vices and promote peaceful democratic participation.
Niger: Police, youths unite against political, digital thuggery