Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade

Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade.

The Ekiti State Police Command has urged youths in the state to shun political and digital thuggery, violence, cultism, cybercrime and hate speech, warning that such activities could jeopardise their future.

The command made the call in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday, on Wednesday, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day.

The celebration, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” is aimed at strengthening police-youth engagement and encouraging young people to contribute positively to peace, security and community development.

According to the command, the three-day programme, scheduled for August 20 to 22, 2026, is being organised in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji 2 Disu.

“The Ekiti State Police Command joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2026 International Youth Day, under the theme, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.’

“The celebration is aimed at strengthening police-youth engagement and encouraging young people to contribute positively to peace, security and community development. The celebration, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, will feature a three-day programme of activities from 20th to 22nd August 2026”, the statement partly read.

The programme will commence on Thursday with a youth awareness walkathon from the Area Command Headquarters, Ado Central, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti.

On Friday, the command will hold a tree-planting exercise at the Police Children School, Old Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti.

The activities will culminate on Saturday with the official launch of the National Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery, a police-youth dialogue, panel discussion and special lecture at the Officers’ Mess Auditorium, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti.

The command said the programme was designed to provide a platform for meaningful interaction with youths on responsible citizenship, peaceful participation, digital responsibility and crime prevention.

The command urged young people to reject activities capable of undermining their future and instead channel their energy and talents towards productive pursuits.

“The Command urges young people to reject political thuggery, violence, cultism, cybercrime, hate speech and other activities capable of jeopardising their future, and instead channel their energy and talents towards education, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and other productive pursuits,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP Falade Michael, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustained engagement with youths and stronger partnerships with stakeholders to promote peace and security in the state.