The Oyo State Police Command has used this year’s International Youth Day to urge young people to verify information before sharing it online, as it seeks to counter misinformation, hate speech and digital forms of thuggery.
The command joined other police formations in Nigeria for a Walkathon organised around youth engagement, healthy living and community safety.
The event also focused on strengthening relations between police officers and young people, according to the command.
The police said the initiative provided an opportunity to reinforce its campaign against political and digital thuggery.
It also encouraged young people to take greater responsibility for their activities online and offline.
Police warn against harmful online content
The command's central message to young people was “Verify Before You Share”.
It urged social media users to check information before circulating it and warned against becoming channels for misinformation, hate and other harmful content.
The warning comes as the Nigeria Police Force has increasingly linked responsible social media use with public safety.
Earlier in August, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu stressed the importance of verifying information before dissemination during a meeting with the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency.
The police said both institutions were seeking closer cooperation on public enlightenment, civic responsibility and crisis prevention.
In April, the police also said it had arrested a suspect following an investigation into the circulation of a video it described as capable of threatening public peace and national security.
The Force again advised citizens to verify information before sharing it.
Also Read: Ogun Police Launches Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery
What International Youth Day means
The Walkathon formed part of activities marking International Youth Day, observed globally on 12 August.
The United Nations' official 2026 theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
It highlights the fact that young people face different circumstances but share aspirations such as decent work, education, dignity, participation and a better future.
The UN has also identified digital literacy, critical thinking, empathy and resilience as important future-ready skills for young people.
This gives the Oyo police campaign a wider context.
However, a walk alone cannot demonstrate whether young people's online behaviour or their relationship with the police has changed.
The command did not provide figures on the number of young people who took part, details of the route, or evidence showing the campaign's impact.
From symbolic event to lasting engagement
The police described the Walkathon as a sign of a shared commitment to a safer and more peaceful Oyo State.
It said young people should be regarded as partners in crime prevention, community safety and sustainable development rather than only as a group requiring policing.
That approach is consistent with the broader shift towards community engagement within the Nigeria Police Force.
In April 2025, the Force organised a nationwide walkathon ahead of its first National Police Day, saying the exercise was intended to strengthen relationships between police officers and communities.
The challenge for the Oyo Command will be turning such public events into sustained engagement.
For young people, the benefits will depend less on the Walkathon itself and more on whether the police create channels through which youths can report crime, challenge misinformation, raise concerns about policing and participate meaningfully in community safety.
The next test will therefore be whether the message of responsible citizenship and partnership continues beyond International Youth Day.
Source: Oyo State Police Command; United Nations.
