2027: Akwa Ibom Police Warn Youths Against Violence, Cybercrime

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, has cautioned youths in the state against thuggery and political violence as campaigns for the 2027 elections begin, adding that they should not take bullets for the politicians.

He enjoined the future leaders not to mortgage their conscience but reject political thuggery, cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, electoral violence, vandalism and other forms of criminality, while embracing peace, responsible citizenship and positive nation-building attitude.

Azare handed down the advise at a forum which coincided with the International Youth Day 2026 commemorating the “National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative,” held at the Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, the State capital at the weekend.

At the gathering which drew youths leaders from over 2,000 villages, the CP pointed out that although young Nigerians come from different backgrounds and circumstances, they share common aspirations for education, employment, security, justice, equal opportunity and a better future, and urged them to embrace the special national campaign; “My Future Is Greater Than Political Thuggery,” stressing that “no political ambition is worth the life or future of any Nigerian youth.”

He admonished young people to participate actively in democratic processes but reject violence, noting that politics should be a contest of ideas and service rather than a battlefield. He equally appealed to political actors and community leaders to desist from exploiting youths as instruments of electoral violence.

Azare, however, admonished the younger generation to redirect their energy into protecting government’s infrastructure, describing public facilities as “collective assets provided for the benefit of the people.”

He called on citizens to promptly report acts of vandalism and other suspicious activities to the Police or appropriate security agencies, rather than taking the laws into their own hands.

On digital responsibility, the Commissioner reinforced the campaign message; “Think Before You Click, Verify Before You Share,” urging youths to guard against misinformation, cyberbullying, defamatory content, manipulated media and the misuse of artificial intelligence, cautioning that “the power to communicate through social media must be accompanied by responsibility.”

The Commissioner commended Governor Umo Eno, for his commitment to Youths’ development, especially for the initiative of integrating youth Presidents and youth leadership structures into the security architecture of the State.

According to him, the initiative would strengthen community participation in security, as youth leaders are strategically positioned to support intelligence gathering, early warning, community engagement and crime prevention.