Ododo, Security Expert Urge Youth Inclusion In Kogi Security Architecture

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and a security expert, Chief Yusuf Haruna Abiona, have called for greater involvement of youths in the state’s security architecture, stressing that education, employment, technology and economic empowerment are critical to addressing insecurity.

They made the call at the Kogi Youth Security Summit 2026, held in Lokoja, where they emphasised that sustainable security could not be achieved through arms and ammunition alone but required a comprehensive approach that addressed the conditions exposing young people to criminality.

Governor Ododo said the youth must be at the centre of every serious conversation about security, adding that a society seeking lasting peace must first secure the future of its young people.

According to him, security extends beyond policing and military operations to include education, job creation, economic expansion, technological innovation and social inclusion.

He described the state government’s free and compulsory education policy as both an educational intervention and a security strategy, noting that keeping children in school would protect their future and strengthen communities against criminal influences.

The governor said his administration was creating opportunities in agriculture, mining, technology, entrepreneurship and industry to enable young people to deploy their talents productively.

He added that infrastructure development, agricultural expansion, responsible mining and the Ajaokuta Free Trade Zone were part of efforts to build an economy capable of accommodating the aspirations of the state’s growing youth population.

Ododo said development was an essential component of security because it gave citizens something valuable to protect.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pursuing policies aimed at expanding Nigeria’s productive capacity, arguing that economic growth and increased opportunities would strengthen the foundations of national security.

The governor further called for the integration of technology into security operations, observing that criminal networks were increasingly exploiting digital platforms for recruitment, communication, manipulation and the spread of misinformation.

He disclosed that engineering students at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) were working on drone production, describing young innovators as potential contributors to the fight against criminality.

“Those young engineers will never be bandits; they will provide the intellectual wall against criminality,” he said.

Ododo urged youth organisations, student associations and community groups to promote peace, responsible citizenship and constructive engagement, warning young people against being recruited into thuggery, cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.

He also encouraged youths to support security agencies by providing credible information through appropriate channels, stressing that reporting threats to the community was an act of patriotism rather than betrayal.

The governor cautioned against the spread of unverified information, hate speech and inflammatory messages, particularly on social media, urging young people to consider the consequences of information they share online.
He said the state’s diversity should remain a source of strength and unity rather than become a tool for creating divisions among communities.

Ododo assured that his administration would continue to support security agencies, strengthen institutional capacity and create lawful opportunities for young people to contribute to community safety.

He, however, stressed that government alone could not guarantee sustainable security without the cooperation of traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, schools, civil society organisations, the private sector and local communities.

The governor urged the organisers to ensure that the summit produced practical initiatives and community-based programmes rather than end with speeches.

In his keynote address, Chief Abiona, a Certified Protection Officer and chief executive officer of Hay Bravo Security Limited, also called for a shift from viewing young people primarily as potential security threats to recognising them as vital partners in intelligence gathering and community protection.

He said the security challenges confronting communities, including kidnapping, banditry, cultism, drug abuse, communal tensions, cybercrime and violent extremism, could not be effectively tackled by security agencies acting alone.

Abiona advocated the establishment of structured youth-security community liaison platforms across the state’s 21 local government areas to provide responsible channels for communicating security concerns to relevant authorities.

He, however, warned that community intelligence must be distinguished from rumours, social media gossip, ethnic suspicion and vigilantism.

According to him, security information must be verified and communicated through appropriate channels to prevent innocent people from being targeted and to ensure effective responses by security agencies.

The security expert also called for stronger community-based early-warning and early-response mechanisms, regular youth-security engagements, digital awareness programmes, drug-abuse prevention initiatives and inter-community dialogue.

He said the growing technological knowledge of young people could be harnessed for early warning, emergency communication, responsible information sharing and community safety.

Abiona further stressed that youth security policies must go beyond policing to address unemployment, hopelessness and the lack of economic opportunities, which he said could make young people vulnerable to criminal recruitment.

He identified skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, education, agriculture, technology, sports and legitimate employment as essential components of a comprehensive security strategy.

Presenting a five-point agenda for strengthening security in Kogi, he proposed the establishment of youth-security liaison networks across the 21 local government areas, stronger community early-warning systems, continuous security awareness and leadership programmes, expanded youth empowerment opportunities and improved collaboration among government, security agencies and community stakeholders.

He also urged security institutions to build trust with young people through regular dialogue, community outreach and accountability, rather than engaging them only when crises arise.

Abiona said the ultimate objective should be to create an environment where children could attend school safely, farmers could access their farms, businesses could operate peacefully and communities could coexist without fear.

Both speakers called on young people to reject violence, embrace responsible citizenship and take an active role in building a safer and more prosperous Kogi State.