The Ogun State Police Command has intensified its non-kinetic approach to crime prevention through youth sensitisation, academic advocacy and community engagement aimed at tackling cultism, substance abuse, cybercrime and other social vices.

The initiatives are in line with the strategic directives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which emphasise intelligence-led and community-driven policing.

Under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, the Command recently organised two major sensitisation programmes designed to encourage young people to embrace responsible lifestyles and shun activities capable of undermining their future and national security.

At the 8th Set Academic Seminar of the Department of Mass Communication, Al-Hikmah University, Abeokuta Study Centre, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, delivered a paper titled, “Substance Abuse and National Insecurity: Building Responsible Youth Through Entrepreneurship.”

Speaking to lecturers, media stakeholders and undergraduate students, Babaseyi highlighted the connection between substance abuse and violent crime, noting that drug use could contribute to criminal activities such as cultism, armed robbery and cybercrime.

He urged young people to embrace entrepreneurship as a means of achieving economic independence while contributing positively to society.

He also charged media practitioners to use their platforms to promote responsible public discourse and discourage behaviours that could expose youths to criminality.

In a related engagement, the Ogun State chapter of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), led by its State Coordinator and Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Opeyemi Oluborode, partnered with Peace Club Abeokuta, affiliated with the World Peace Initiative Foundation, for the “Better Me Tournament.”

The tournament brought together undergraduate students from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and other tertiary institutions across the state.

During the programme, the POCACOV team held interactive sessions with the students on self-discipline, personal leadership, the dangers of gang involvement and other social vices.

The Command said the engagements reflected its belief that effective crime prevention should go beyond enforcement to include early intervention, education and positive value orientation among young people.

While assuring residents that enforcement operations against criminal elements would continue, the police said preventive measures remained critical to addressing youth-related crime in the long term.

The Command therefore called on academic institutions, civil society organisations, parents and community leaders to strengthen collaboration with the police by guiding young people towards productive, responsible and crime-free lifestyles.

The Police said sustained partnerships with stakeholders would help create safer communities and equip young people with the values and skills needed to become responsible members of society.