Reported Simon Daniel Yusuph l journalist at wengglobal
The Ekiti State Police Command has called on young people across the state to reject political thuggery, cultism, violence, cybercrime and other forms of criminality, urging them instead to channel their energy and talents into education, entrepreneurship, skills development and other legitimate pursuits that can contribute to their personal advancement and the wider development of the state.
The warning comes amid heightened attention to youth participation in politics and security across Ekiti, where authorities and stakeholders have repeatedly stressed the importance of preventing young people from being recruited into violent political activities or criminal networks.
The police position also reflects a broader national concern over the vulnerability of young people to criminal exploitation, particularly during periods of intense political competition. Political thuggery, cult-related violence and online fraud can expose young people to arrest, prosecution, injury and long-term damage to their education, careers and livelihoods.
The command’s message is therefore not limited to law enforcement. It places emphasis on prevention, responsible citizenship and the need for young Nigerians to pursue lawful opportunities capable of providing sustainable livelihoods.
Recent security measures in Ekiti have placed particular emphasis on preventing political violence, cult-related activities and misinformation. Ahead of the state’s June 20, 2026 governorship election, the Nigeria Police Force deployed Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle to oversee election security operations, with the command announcing intelligence-led measures targeting political violence, thuggery, cult-related activities and misinformation. (FMINFO)
Police position youth as partners in security
The appeal to Ekiti youths is consistent with the Nigeria Police Force’s increasing emphasis on preventive policing and community engagement.
In June 2026, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu launched a nationwide advocacy and sensitisation campaign under the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, known as POCACOV.
The initiative is designed to discourage young people from becoming involved in cultism, drug abuse, violent crime and other social vices through grassroots awareness, early intervention and cooperation with schools, communities, religious organisations and other stakeholders. (Nigeria Police Force)
This approach recognises that policing alone cannot eliminate youth-related criminality.
Law-enforcement agencies can investigate crimes and arrest suspects, but sustainable prevention also requires families, schools, communities, political parties, religious institutions and governments to create legitimate opportunities for young people.
For Ekiti, where education and human-capital development have historically formed an important part of the state’s identity, the appeal for youths to pursue productive activities carries particular significance.
Political thuggery remains a democratic concern
Political thuggery is one of the most persistent threats associated with electoral competition in Nigeria.
Young people are sometimes mobilised by political actors to intimidate opponents, disrupt campaign activities, influence voting processes or create fear around polling locations. Such practices can undermine citizens’ constitutional right to participate freely in elections.
The problem does not end with election day. Young people recruited into political violence can become exposed to broader criminal networks and may find it difficult to return to normal economic and social activities after political contests have ended.
The police warning therefore carries a wider democratic message: political disagreements should be resolved through debate, lawful campaigning and the ballot box rather than intimidation or violence.
This was also reflected in the preparations for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election. The police warned political parties, candidates and supporters against violence, thuggery, vote buying and other conduct capable of undermining a peaceful election. The command also urged stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious activities. (The Nation)
The European Union-Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria election observation platform similarly urged political parties and candidates in the 2026 Ekiti election to reject thuggery, vote buying and misinformation capable of inciting violence. (Niger Delta Radio)
Cultism and the danger to young people
The police warning also highlights cultism, which remains a serious security and social challenge in parts of southwestern Nigeria.
Ekiti has experienced previous incidents involving suspected cult groups. In May 2024, the Ekiti State Police Command arrested eight suspected cult members at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, following a distress call concerning the activities of suspected members of the Buccaneers Confraternity and Alora Sea Lords. The police said some suspects were arrested while others allegedly fled after gunfire was directed at officers. (Punch Newspapers)
More recently, in August 2026, the command announced the arrest of three suspects over alleged cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. According to the report, police operatives recovered a locally made pistol and other dangerous weapons during searches of premises linked to the suspects. (AASG MAGAZINE)
These incidents illustrate why the police continue to place cultism among the issues requiring sustained community vigilance.
Cult groups can attract young people through promises of protection, identity, influence or financial rewards. However, involvement can expose members to violent confrontations, criminal prosecution and cycles of retaliation.
The police campaign against cultism therefore seeks to prevent recruitment rather than merely respond after violence has occurred.
Cybercrime and the lure of quick wealth
The command’s warning against cybercrime also addresses a different dimension of youth criminality.
Internet-enabled fraud has become an increasingly visible law-enforcement concern in Nigeria, particularly as young people spend more time online and gain access to digital financial platforms.
The attraction of fast money can make cybercrime appear appealing to individuals facing unemployment, economic hardship or social pressure. Yet the consequences can include arrest, prosecution, financial losses to victims and reputational damage to individuals and communities.
Research into cybercrime in southwestern Nigeria has identified factors including unemployment, poverty, peer pressure and the pursuit of quick financial gains among issues associated with young people’s vulnerability to internet fraud. (PubMed Central (PMC))
The challenge is therefore not simply one of policing the internet. It also involves creating credible alternatives through digital skills, entrepreneurship, education and legitimate employment.
Young Nigerians with technological abilities can build careers in software development, cybersecurity, digital marketing, data analysis, online commerce and other emerging sectors without resorting to fraudulent activities.
Productive opportunities as an alternative
The police appeal for young people to embrace productive pursuits highlights the importance of creating practical alternatives to criminality.
Government programmes focused on vocational training, entrepreneurship, agriculture, creative industries and digital skills can provide pathways for youths who might otherwise feel excluded from economic opportunities.
In December 2024, the National Directorate of Employment announced an initiative targeting 93,731 unemployed and unskilled youths and other residents across Nigeria. The programme included vocational skills development, small-scale enterprise support, rural employment promotion and special public works, with ICT and digital-skills training forming part of the initiative. (Tribune Online)
Such programmes demonstrate the importance of linking security policy with economic empowerment.
A young person who has access to skills, employment or a viable business opportunity is less vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups or political sponsors seeking individuals willing to engage in violence.
However, empowerment programmes must also be transparent, accessible and sustained. Short-term initiatives without follow-up support may have limited impact if beneficiaries lack access to equipment, finance, markets or mentorship.
Ekiti’s youth population and development potential
The call from the police also places attention on the broader question of how Ekiti can harness its youthful population.
Young people represent a major source of labour, creativity and innovation. Their contribution can be felt across agriculture, education, technology, entertainment, manufacturing, commerce and public service.
The Ekiti State Government has also promoted the creative economy as a potential avenue for youth development. In August 2026, Governor Biodun Oyebanji urged young people to use their talents and creative abilities to create jobs, businesses and wealth while unveiling the 2026 Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture. (Ekiti State Government)
The emphasis on creativity and entrepreneurship complements the police’s security-focused message.
Rather than viewing youths primarily through the lens of crime prevention, policymakers can treat them as essential partners in economic development, community security and democratic participation.
Beyond warnings: the need for shared responsibility
While police warnings are important, preventing thuggery, cultism and cybercrime cannot be the responsibility of the security agencies alone.
Parents and guardians have an important role in monitoring young people’s activities and providing guidance. Schools can strengthen civic education and awareness about the consequences of criminal behaviour. Religious and traditional institutions can promote values that discourage violence and fraud.
Political parties also have a responsibility to ensure that young supporters are not recruited for violent activities.
Equally, government institutions must strengthen access to education, skills acquisition, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Young people themselves must recognise that political patronage based on violence is rarely a sustainable path to personal development. A temporary financial reward from a political sponsor cannot compensate for the potential consequences of criminal prosecution, injury or loss of future opportunities.
A message ahead of future elections
Although the latest warning is focused on youth behaviour, it carries significance for future electoral cycles in Ekiti and beyond.
The state has already undergone heightened security preparations around the 2026 governorship election, including measures aimed at preventing political violence and thuggery. (FMINFO)
As Nigeria approaches subsequent political contests, including the 2027 general elections, the ability of political stakeholders to keep young people away from violence will remain an important test of democratic maturity.
Political parties that genuinely seek youth participation can provide platforms for policy debate, leadership development and civic engagement rather than using young people as instruments of intimidation.
For the police, the challenge will be to maintain a balance between firm enforcement against criminality and meaningful engagement with communities.
Wengglobal perspective
The Ekiti Police Command’s appeal should be viewed as part of a wider effort to prevent young people from becoming casualties or instruments of Nigeria’s security and political challenges.
The most effective response to youth criminality is unlikely to come from arrests alone. It requires a combination of law enforcement, education, economic opportunity, responsible political leadership and community participation.
Ekiti’s young population has the potential to contribute significantly to the state’s future. The choice between productive engagement and criminal activity will, however, be influenced not only by individual decisions but also by the opportunities available to young people.
Political thuggery, cultism and cybercrime can offer the illusion of quick influence or wealth, but they ultimately carry serious legal and social consequences.
For Wengglobal, the central message is clear: protecting young Nigerians requires both accountability for criminal conduct and a deliberate investment in the legitimate opportunities that allow them to succeed.
The police have a responsibility to enforce the law, while government, political leaders and society must work to ensure that young people have reasons to choose lawful and productive paths.
A secure Ekiti will not be built solely through police operations. It will also depend on whether the state can transform the energy, creativity and ambitions of its young population into productive economic and civic participation.
That remains one of the most important long-term security investments the state can make.
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation — Reported the deployment of CP Abayomi Shogunle to oversee security operations for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election and measures against political violence, thuggery and cult activities. (FMINFO)
- Nigeria Police Force — Reported the nationwide launch of the POCACOV advocacy and sensitisation campaign against cultism, drug abuse, violent crime and other social vices. (Nigeria Police Force)
- The Nation — Reported the Ekiti police warning to political actors and supporters against violence, thuggery and other electoral offences. (The Nation)
- Punch — Reported the arrest of eight suspected cult members at Ekiti State University in 2024. (Punch Newspapers)
- The Guardian Nigeria — Also reported the 2024 arrest of suspected cult members at Ekiti State University. (The Guardian Nigeria)
- Tribune Online — Reported the NDE initiative targeting unemployed and unskilled youths, including vocational and digital-skills training. (Tribune Online)
