By Sandra Kenneth
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has issued a stern call to youths across the state, urging them to reject attempts by political actors and influential figures to recruit them for electoral violence and criminal activities.
CP Adepoju made the charge during an event organized in Port Harcourt to commemorate International Youth Day. Delivering his address, the Police Commissioner praised Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for launching the youth-focused initiative, describing it as a timely and commendable effort aimed at fostering responsible citizenship, empowering young citizens, and strengthening community resilience against political and digital instability.
Expressing concern over the growing vulnerabilities facing young people today, Adepoju noted that youths are increasingly targeted and exposed to political violence, online harassment, cyberbullying, disinformation, and incitement.
Rather than succumbing to political thuggery, drug abuse, cultism, and cybercrime, the Police Commissioner urged the youth population to dedicate their energy toward self-improvement, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, and talent development.
Echoing these sentiments, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Rachael Opadola, delivered a lecture titled “Election Thuggery: Roles of Youths in Promoting Peaceful Elections.” She admonished youths against serving as tools for political disruption and detailed specific electoral offenses alongside the legal frameworks and statutory penalties designed to prosecute offenders.
A key highlight of the event was the official inauguration of the Student Union Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) Ambassadors, administered by the State Coordinator of POCACOV, Eke Onwuka, to drive peer-to-peer sensitization across educational institutions in the state.
