BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has urged the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen collaboration on youth security and intensify efforts to curb crimes involving young people across the state.
The Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Charity Amayeavbo, gave the charge in Benin City during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika.
Hon. Amayeavbo commended the Police for their quick response to distress calls and consistent efforts to maintain law and order in the state.
He, however, expressed concern over rising cases of cybercrime, cultism, and kidnapping involving youths, describing them as urgent issues requiring collective action.
He also condemned reports of exploitation and extortion of young persons by some police officers, including the illegal searching of mobile phones, and urged the Commissioner to address such misconduct decisively.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs will not support any form of criminality. Justice must be served irrespective of who is involved,” he stated.
Amayeavbo said that the Ministry, as a key stakeholder in the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, was committed to youth welfare and engagement, adding that plans were underway to convene a Youth Security Dialogue in November 2025.
The proposed dialogue, he noted, would bring together stakeholders from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to build trust and promote a youth-friendly policing environment.
In his response, CP Agbonika commended the Commissioner’s initiative and pledged the Command’s full cooperation.
He noted that cultism remained a major security concern in Edo State, with a significant portion of the perpetrators being young people.
He disclosed that the Command had introduced Community-Oriented Policing (COP) across the state and was consulting with various community groups to deepen public participation in crime prevention.
Agbonika further revealed that the Command was developing an informal policing framework, which includes sensitization on anti-kidnapping measures and the recruitment of profiled community volunteers to assist with patrols, surveillance, and crime mapping.
Both commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, justice, and building mutual trust between the youth and law enforcement agencies in Edo State.
Those present included the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aiyegbeni Balogun, and the Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Strategy.
