The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Chapter, has commenced strategic engagement with security stakeholders to strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering, community vigilance and preventive security measures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move followed a youth security interactive session organised by the NYCN with the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Forest Security Service and the Nigeria Legion on Tuesday at the Ebonyi Youth House, NYCN Annex, Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.
The session, which was led by the Ebonyi State Commander of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, Commander Larry Igwe, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, Ebonyi State, Rt. Corp. Okechukwu Ijagwu, focused on emerging security threats, community-based intelligence and the collective responsibility of stakeholders in maintaining peace across the state.
The NYCN State Chairman said the engagement was aimed at deepening cooperation between youths and security formations and strengthening the flow of credible information from communities to relevant security authorities.
He said youths had a critical role to play in crime prevention, early warning and conflict de-escalation, given their presence and influence across communities in the state.
The chairman also expressed the council's appreciation to the Nigeria Forest Security Service and the Nigeria Legion for their contributions to the security architecture of Ebonyi State.
He said the initiative was consistent with the People's Charter of Needs policy of the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, particularly the administration's efforts to sustain a secure environment for residents, businesses and investors.
According to the NYCN leadership, security remains a prerequisite for meaningful development, stressing that no government or community could achieve sustainable socio-economic progress where lives and property were under constant threat.
Igwe, who led the Forest Security delegation, emphasised the importance of grassroots collaboration in addressing security challenges, particularly in communities and hinterland areas where timely intelligence could help security agencies prevent criminal activities before they escalate.
He urged youths to remain vigilant and promptly transmit credible information concerning suspicious movements, criminal activities or potential threats to the appropriate security authorities.
Also speaking, Ijagwu stressed the importance of collective responsibility and sustained inter-agency and community cooperation in preserving peace, particularly as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The stakeholders resolved that citizens, youth organisations, community leaders, traditional institutions and security formations must work collaboratively to strengthen the state's early-warning and response mechanisms.
They further agreed that stakeholders should intensify public enlightenment and security awareness campaigns while discouraging actions capable of undermining public order.
A key resolution of the meeting was for all stakeholders to contribute effectively to maintaining peace and security across the hinterland ahead of the 2027 electioneering campaign in Ebonyi.
The NYCN urged youths to reject political violence, thuggery, intimidation, hate speech and other forms of electoral misconduct capable of threatening the peaceful coexistence of communities.
The council also pledged continued engagement with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders towards strengthening community policing initiatives, intelligence sharing, conflict prevention and rapid response to emerging security threats.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that Ebonyi State remains peaceful and secure before, during and after the 2027 elections.
