Taraba Police Launch Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery, Urge Youths to Protect Their Future
The Taraba State Police Command has launched a youth-focused campaign against political violence, digital manipulation and other forms of youth exploitation, urging young people across the state to reject actions capable of jeopardising their future and threatening peace and security.
The campaign, themed “My Future Is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery,” was unveiled during an interactive youth engagement forum in Jalingo as part of activities commemorating International Youth Day.
In a statement dated August 22, 2026, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba State Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, the Command said the initiative was designed to enlighten, empower and mobilise young Nigerians against political and digital activities that could undermine their personal development and the security of society.
The programme brought together young people from several communities within Jalingo metropolis, including Magami, Nasarawo and Dorowa, alongside senior police officers and representatives of youth and community organisations.
According to the Command, participants were sensitised on electoral violence, political thuggery, misinformation, digital manipulation and the exploitation of young people for political and criminal purposes.
Police Warn Youths Against Political Exploitation
A major focus of the engagement was the involvement of young people in political violence, particularly during electoral activities.
The Police Command urged youths to resist attempts by individuals or political actors to recruit or manipulate them into engaging in violence, intimidation and other unlawful activities.
Representing the Commissioner of Police at the programme, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Umar Shehu Didango, said the choices made by young people today could have lasting consequences for both their individual futures and the country.
He urged participants to reject violence, criminality, political manipulation and the irresponsible use of digital platforms.
According to him, no political ambition or temporary benefit should be considered valuable enough to destroy the future of a young person.
The message comes at a time when young Nigerians remain a major force in the country’s political and digital spaces. Their large presence on social media has created new opportunities for civic participation, entrepreneurship, advocacy and political engagement, but it has also increased concerns about misinformation, online manipulation and the mobilisation of young people for potentially harmful purposes.
The Taraba Police Command said its campaign seeks to ensure that young people understand these risks and make decisions that protect their future.
Digital Thuggery and Misinformation in Focus
Beyond conventional political thuggery, the campaign also places significant attention on what the Police described as “digital thuggery.”
Participants were encouraged to exercise caution when using social media and other online platforms and to avoid allowing themselves to become tools for spreading misinformation or manipulating public opinion.
The Command advised young people to verify information before sharing it, reject attempts at manipulation and use technology for legitimate and productive purposes.
The increasing influence of digital communication means false or misleading information can circulate rapidly, potentially increasing tension and damaging relationships within communities.
For the Police Command, encouraging responsible digital citizenship is therefore becoming an important component of crime prevention and peacebuilding.
Rather than using social media for harassment, misinformation or activities that could provoke conflict, the Command encouraged youths to channel their technological skills and creativity towards education, innovation, entrepreneurship and other productive ventures.
Youths Positioned as Partners in Security
The campaign also represents an effort to strengthen relations between young people and security agencies in Taraba State.
Members of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) and representatives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria attended the programme, alongside senior officers of the Taraba State Police Command.
The Command said their participation demonstrated the need for collective action in addressing challenges facing young people and strengthening cooperation between the Police and communities.
Rather than viewing young people only from the perspective of crime prevention, the initiative positions them as important stakeholders in building peaceful and secure communities.
The Command stressed that young people could play significant roles in peacebuilding, responsible civic participation and community security when they are properly engaged and empowered.
This approach was captured in the Command’s message that “when you build a youth, you build a nation.”
The Police said it remains committed to educating and empowering young people and recognising them as critical partners in preventing crime and maintaining peace.
Campaign to Move Beyond Jalingo
The Jalingo engagement is expected to be the beginning of a wider campaign across Taraba State.
According to the Command, the programme is the first in a series of youth-focused engagements planned for communities across the state.
Subsequent activities are expected to take the campaign to the grassroots, ensuring that young people outside the state capital are also reached with messages on peaceful coexistence, responsible citizenship and positive youth development.
Extending the initiative beyond Jalingo could be particularly important in reaching communities where young people may have fewer opportunities to participate directly in organised civic and security awareness programmes.
The Command said the broader objective is to ensure that youths across Taraba understand the consequences of political exploitation, violence, criminality and irresponsible use of digital platforms.
Police Seek Support From Parents and Community Leaders
The Taraba State Police Command also called for the involvement of families, traditional institutions, religious organisations, political stakeholders and civil society groups.
Parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations and other community stakeholders were urged to support efforts aimed at protecting young people from exploitation and manipulation.
The Command’s position suggests that tackling political and digital thuggery cannot be left to law enforcement agencies alone.
Families have responsibilities in guiding young people, while religious and traditional institutions can use their influence to promote peaceful conduct. Political stakeholders also have a responsibility to ensure young supporters are not mobilised for violence or other unlawful activities.
Civil society organisations and youth groups can equally contribute through civic education, fact-checking, digital literacy and programmes that provide constructive alternatives for young people.
“Your Future Is Greater”
At the centre of the campaign is a simple message: young people should not sacrifice their long-term aspirations for short-term political or financial benefits.
The Police Command urged youths across Taraba State to recognise that their future is greater than political or digital thuggery.
Instead, they were encouraged to embrace peace, integrity, education, innovation, responsible digital citizenship and productive engagement.
The campaign also seeks to remind young people that political participation does not have to involve violence and that active engagement in public affairs can take place peacefully and responsibly.
As digital platforms become increasingly influential in politics and everyday life, the ability to distinguish credible information from manipulation is also becoming an essential civic skill.
The Taraba State Police Command said it would continue working to strengthen Police-community partnerships and create an environment in which young people can safely pursue their aspirations.
Ultimately, the success of the initiative will depend not only on the number of awareness programmes organised but also on whether its message translates into meaningful choices among young people and responsible conduct among political and community leaders.
For the youths who participated in the first engagement in Jalingo, however, the message was unmistakable: their education, careers, innovations, ambitions and future are worth far more than becoming instruments of political violence or digital manipulation.
