The Niger State Police Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other stakeholders, has urged juveniles at the Niger State Remand Home, Minna, to reject crime and embrace education, discipline and positive values.
The stakeholders gave the advice during a special advocacy programme organised by the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) to mark World Charity Day 2026.
Speaking during the programme, the POCACOV State Coordinator, ASP Simon T. Lough, urged the juveniles not to allow their past mistakes or current circumstances to determine their future.
He warned them against drug abuse, cultism, cybercrime, violence, thuggery and other social vices, encouraging them to acquire useful skills, pursue education and build positive relationships ahead of their reintegration into society.
The State POCACOV Committee Chairman, Mr Guja Ibrahim, said the police-led initiative was committed to supporting young people who were willing to turn their lives around.
Mr Ibrahim pledged to assist juveniles who had discontinued their education to explore opportunities for further learning after leaving the facility, stressing the importance of mentorship and continuous guidance.
The NDLEA also sensitised the juveniles on the dangers of drug and substance abuse, noting that substance use could adversely affect their health, education and capacity to make responsible decisions.
Similarly, the Inmates Educational Foundation encouraged the beneficiaries to stay away from criminal activities after their release and use education and discipline to rebuild their lives.
The foundation donated exercise books and other educational materials to the juveniles as part of its support for their rehabilitation.
The Deputy Director, Socials, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr David Gana Yisa, described the programme as a positive intervention capable of giving the young offenders renewed hope, while calling for stronger partnerships to sustain similar initiatives.
The Head of the Remand Home, Hajia Halima Mohammed, appreciated the stakeholders for the intervention, describing it as a welcome development and the first of its kind from the Nigeria Police.
She said the message of hope and encouragement would complement the facility’s rehabilitation efforts and better prepare the juveniles for successful reintegration into society.
The programme featured an interactive session and presentation of incentives to the juveniles, with participants emphasising that the rehabilitation of vulnerable young people requires the collective efforts of government agencies, families, security organisations, civil society groups and the media.
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