Edo State Govt Charges Commissioner of Police on Youth Security

Edo State Govt Charges Commissioner of Police on Youth Security

‎The Edo State Government through its Ministry of Youth Affairs has charged the Commissioner of Police on youth security and collaboration on ensuring optimum security of residents in the State.

‎The Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Charity Amayanvbo gave the charge in Benin City, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP. Monday Agbonika. He commended the Nigeria Police Force for its consistent response to distress calls and efforts put in place to maintain safety in the State. 

‎Hon. Amayanvbo highlighted urgent concerns affecting the youth to include crimes like cybercrime, cultism and kidnapping. He decried the conduct of some police personnel in some areas in the State, bothering on exploitation and extortion of youths by Police Officers. He noted that some Police officers illegally force youths to search their mobile phones, urging the Commissioner to activate his search lights on addressing such misconduct, emphasizing that the Ministry would not support any form of criminality and that justice must be served regardless of the offender’s status. 

‎The Commissioner affirmed that the Ministry is a stakeholder in the Sen. Okpebholo-led administration, which is profoundly concerned about the welfare of all youths and has mandated that the Ministry’s doors remained open to every young person in the State. He announced plans to organise a Youth Security Dialogue to foster trust and to create a youth-police-friendly atmosphere, following consultation with stakeholders like the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC), the Directorate of State Services (DSS), the National Drug, Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a town hall meeting scheduled for November, 2025, pending formal approval by the Governor. 

‎On his part, CP. Agbonika acknowledged the vital role of the Ministry in the Command’s Anti-crime Strategy, concurring that crime, particularly cultism, was widely associated with a large segment of the youth population in Edo State, while endorsing the Commissioner’s proposed youth engagement initiative. He disclosed that the Command was strategically introducing Community Oriented Policing (COP) across the State and was consulting with various groups as part of the drive.

‎He revealed that internal research confirmed that cultism is the major crime concern among Edo residents, though implementing partnerships had faced challenges in the North and the Central senatorial districts. He appreciated the Edo State’s youths as energetic and highlighted that the Command is currently sensitizing them to channel their energy into productive pursuits instead of crime. 

‎To strengthen security, the Command has identified and planned to implement an informal policing system, sensitizing communities on anti-kidnapping measures, and is actively seeking volunteers who will undergo profiling and receive training in areas like patrol searching and crime mapping to assist in combating crime.

‎The engagement ended with the commissioners’ pledging to work collaboratively to ensure security, uphold justice and build a positive, trusting relationship between the youth and law enforcement agencies in the State. Other stakeholders present included the functioning Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aiyegbeni Balogun, the Ministry’s Director of Policy Planning, Research and Strategy.