By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has urged youths to reject political thuggery, violence and other criminal activities, warning that no political ambition is worth sacrificing their lives or future.
Azare gave the warning during the International Youth Day 2026 National Youth Leadership & Security Initiative held at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
The Commissioner urged young Nigerians to make the theme “My Future Is Greater Than Political Thuggery” a guiding principle, stressing that youths should participate in democratic activities through peaceful and legitimate means.
He said politics should be based on ideas, service and constructive competition, rather than violence, adding that young people should not allow themselves to be used as instruments of political conflict.
According to Azare, despite differences in background and circumstances, Nigerian youths share common aspirations, including access to education, employment, security, justice, equal opportunities and a better future.
He also charged youths to protect government infrastructure, describing public facilities as collective assets meant to serve the people. He urged citizens to report vandalism and suspicious activities to security agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.
The police commissioner further cautioned young people about irresponsible use of social media, urging them to “Think Before You Click, Verify Before You Share.” He warned against spreading misinformation, cyberbullying, defamatory materials, manipulated content and the misuse of artificial intelligence.
Azare warned that anyone involved in criminal activities, including cybercrime, would face the law regardless of their social status or political affiliation. He also appealed to political and community leaders to stop using youths to perpetrate electoral violence.
The Commissioner commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for his commitment to youth development, particularly the integration of youth presidents and other youth leadership structures into the state’s security framework.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the “ONE TO TELL TEN” Youth Engagement Programme, an initiative designed to spread positive security messages from participating youths to others across communities.
