The Cross River State Police Command has announced a series of youth-focused activities to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, with a strong warning against the growing influence of political and digital thuggery among young people in the state.
The Command said the activities are being organised in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, aimed at strengthening police-youth collaboration and promoting community policing across the country.
According to a statement signed on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the United Nations theme for this year's International Youth Day is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The Nigeria Police Force, however, is marking the occasion with the youth-focused theme, “My Future is Greater than Political and Digital Thuggery,” as part of efforts to encourage young Nigerians to embrace responsible citizenship and peaceful participation in society.
The Cross River Command said its campaign is particularly focused on discouraging youths from being used as instruments of political violence while also addressing the increasing role of social media in spreading threats, misinformation, abuse and other forms of digital criminality.
As part of the programme, the Command will organise a Walkathon on Friday, August 21, beginning at 7:00 a.m. The walk will commence from the Police Headquarters at Diamond Hill, Calabar, and is expected to bring together youths and other stakeholders in an atmosphere of interaction and solidarity.
The Police said the exercise is designed not only as part of the International Youth Day celebration but also as an opportunity to strengthen relationships between young people and security personnel.
The activities will continue on Saturday, August 22, with a Youth-Police Security Symposium at the Women Development Centre in Calabar from 9:00 a.m.
The symposium is expected to provide an avenue for young people, security stakeholders and community representatives to discuss emerging security challenges, trust between the police and citizens, responsible citizenship and collaborative approaches to preventing crime.
The Command has invited youths, traditional and community leaders, government agencies, civil society organisations, students, youth groups and other stakeholders across Cross River State to participate in the events.
The Police stressed that meaningful engagement with young people remains important in preventing crime and building stronger community policing structures.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, reaffirmed the Command's commitment to developing a productive relationship with young people, urging youths to see themselves as partners rather than adversaries in the effort to maintain peace and security.
The Command also appealed to Cross River youths to use their energy, creativity and influence on digital platforms for constructive purposes that promote peace, development and a safer society.
The police intervention comes at a time when political activities are already beginning to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, putting renewed attention on the role of young people in political mobilisation and security.
While the Command did not identify any particular political group or individual, its emphasis on political thuggery highlights the security concerns surrounding the possible recruitment of youths into violent political activities.
The warning against digital thuggery also points to the changing nature of youth-related security challenges, as political arguments and conflicts increasingly move from physical spaces to social media platforms.
For Cross River, the police say the immediate objective is to ensure that young people become active contributors to peace and development rather than being drawn into activities capable of threatening the state's security.
The two-day programme is therefore expected to serve as both a celebration of young people and a security-focused engagement ahead of an increasingly politically active period in the state.
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