By Kelvin Obambon
In a strategic move to bridge the trust gap between law enforcement and the younger generation, a civil society organization, We The People (Centre for Social Studies and Development) has moved to formalize a working relationship with the Cross River State Police Command under the #IncludeNaija Project.
The initiative reached a milestone on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, when representatives of We The People (WTP), Student Leaders and Youth Led Groups across Cross River State, were received in audience by the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid Afegbua at the Command’s Headquarters in Calabar.
The visit served as a platform for WTP to present a commemorative frame to CP Afegbua, recognizing his “unwavering support, youth-friendly policing approach, and commitment to human rights compliance.”
A central feature of the engagement was the presentation of a summary report detailing previous Police-Youth Dialogue sessions held in Akpabuyo, Bakassi, and Calabar. WTP is now seeking to institutionalize these platforms to reduce friction and enhance community-based intelligence sharing.
Speaking during the visit, Ukeme Ekong, Head of WTP Office in Calabar, commended the Commissioner for his accessible and youth-centric disposition. She expressed admiration for the CP’s leadership style, which according to her, is defined by inclusivity and openness.
Augustine Vicker Uka, Esq., We the People’s project officer for the #IncludeNaija project, in a report presentation, highlighted significant systemic hurdles. Barr. Vicker noted that the IncludeNaija project, an initiative funded by European Union, is aimed at promoting inclusive governance, tackling human rights abuses and improving youth participation in governance and security. According to Barr. Vicker, “while young people are receptive to the concept of state policing, they remain haunted by fears of victimization, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and profiling, all of which have contributed to the widespread distrust and conflict between the Police and the Youths.”
To address these concerns, Barr. Vicker proposed, as part of the #IncludeNaija initiative, the establishment of a Youth Reporting Platform featuring a toll-free line. This initiative, according to him, aims to provide a formal alternative to social media escalations, which many youths currently resort to due to a lack of awareness regarding official police channels.
The project, according to him, will cover the full cost of setting up and maintaining this toll-free line. Vicker further appealed to the Commissioner to create an ‘IncludeNaija Desk’ at the State Police Headquarters, and formally endorse the youth reporting portal to boost its credibility among the public.
He stated that WTP, under the structure of the #IncludeNaija initiative is committed to an intensive sensitization campaign to encourage young people to embrace the platform and actively support policing efforts.
Mr. Otei Joshua, a youth of Betem Community and Executive Director of Hope Assured Foundation, during the visit, emphasized the need for proper sensitization among the youths in rural communities. Citing administrative bottleneck as part of the challenges bedeviling effective reporting, Mr. Otei stated that while the youths in rural communities are equally affected by the challenges this initiative seeks to address, they are not equally privileged with information and resources to lodge complaints about rights abuses to the appropriate authorities within the Police Force.
Ms. Yojorsam Stephen Okoi, Student and Leader of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Youth Friendly Hub, stated that the #IncludeNaija engagements have been serving as a balanced platform through which numerous youths across Cross River State interact with the Police and find ways to improve relationship with communities. She further thanked the European Union for supporting the initiative, while expressing gratitude to the Commissioner of Police for being youth-friendly.
Enor Ofem Osikpong, Student leader at University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), in her intervention, stated that the #IncludeNaija initiative will strengthen Youth-Police relations and result to effective community policing, if the Police Authority in the State continues to give the initiative the needed support.
In his response, CP Afegbua acknowledged the complexities of law enforcement in a modern era, noting that the police are subject to rigorous oversight from the Police Service Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs, CSOs and the media. He described the youth as the “strength of the nation” and commended WTP’s proactive initiative.
“The perception of the force is built from our closeness to the public,” Afegbua remarked, pledging the Command’s support for the partnership while urging WTP to continue educating the youth on the essential role of the police in maintaining law and order.
Other senior officers present addressed specific concerns raised by WTP.
Etim Godwin, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of operations, reassured the delegation that modern reforms have prioritized human rights, urging youths to see the police as “friends and family.”
On her part, ACP Juliet Wilson (Administration and Finance) made a passionate plea for public trust, stating it is the foundation of a positive police-public relationship.
Equally, ACP Joshua Adewalehimi (Operations) clarified the legalities of arrests, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” policy for arbitrary arrests and urging victims to report such incidents to the force’s internal units.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah defended the force’s transparency, describing the Nigeria Police as one of the most accountable institutions in the country and highlighting existing channels like the Police Complaints Unit.
The engagement concluded with a mutual commitment to fostering a safer, more inclusive environment where the rights of young people are protected through active collaboration and technology-driven accountability.
