Youths in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, have staged a peace walk in support of the police campaign against cultism, youth violence and other criminal activities.
The exercise was organised on Saturday by Team Wulukpense in collaboration with the Epie/Atissa Entertainment Forum.
Participants marched from Opolo to the Bayelsa State Police Command Headquarters, carrying placards with messages promoting peace, non-violence and the rejection of cultism.
The organisers and participants also pledged to work with security agencies to promote peaceful coexistence and help curb criminal activities across the state.
Commissioner of Police Commends Participants
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, received the participants at the command headquarters and commended them for supporting efforts to tackle cultism and youth violence.
He described the peace walk as an expression of civic responsibility and a collective commitment to building a safer society.
“I commend the organisers and participants for this deliberate decision to identify with the police in the fight against cultism, criminality and youth violence,” Adewale said.
The police commissioner noted that community involvement remained important in addressing insecurity, particularly criminal activities involving young people.
He also described the initiative as a demonstration of collective responsibility in efforts to maintain security.
Police Urge Organisers to Expand Peace Campaign
Adewale encouraged the organisers to sustain the campaign and extend their advocacy to other communities, especially among young people who might be vulnerable to cultism and other forms of criminality.
“I encourage you to sustain this advocacy and continue to promote responsible citizenship and lawful conduct among young people,” he said.
He urged youth groups to continue supporting initiatives that discourage violence and encourage peaceful coexistence.
The commissioner also expressed optimism that sustained cooperation between the police and residents would help maintain peace in Yenagoa and other parts of Bayelsa State.
Police Reaffirm Commitment to Community Partnerships
The police commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to working with community organisations and other stakeholders to address security challenges.
He said cooperation, intelligence-led policing and the exchange of useful information remained important components of efforts to combat cultism and reduce youth violence.
“The command remains committed to strengthening police-community partnerships, intelligence-led policing and constructive engagement with well-meaning groups in our collective effort to curb cultism and reduce youth violence,” Adewale added.
He wished the organisers success and encouraged other youth organisations to participate in campaigns aimed at preventing crime.
Command Calls for Public Support in Maintaining Security
The peace walk formed part of efforts by youth groups to mobilise residents against cultism and encourage greater community participation in maintaining security.
The Bayelsa State Police Command urged residents to support lawful security initiatives and cooperate with security agencies to sustain peace across the state.
The command also encouraged continued engagement between the police and community groups as part of efforts to address criminal activities and promote public safety.
