DESTINY YOUNG
In a quiet Akwa Ibom village, a commercial motorcycle rider notices an unfamiliar vehicle moving repeatedly through the community at unusual hours. The occupants ask questions about a nearby public facility, study the surrounding roads and leave without visiting anyone known to residents.
In the past, the rider might have dismissed the movement as none of his concern. He might have mentioned it casually at a roadside shop, where the information would end as village gossip.
Under the grassroots security initiative introduced by Governor Umo Eno, such an observation could now follow a structured path.
The motorcycle rider could report the matter to the Village Youth President. The youth leader could verify the information, consult the Village Head and pass the report through the designated local security channel. Security agencies could then assess the situation and intervene before a possible threat develops.
This hypothetical scenario explains the thinking behind the Akwa Ibom State Government’s decision to integrate 2,272 Village Youth Presidents into the state’s security architecture.
The initiative recognises a simple reality. Criminal activity often begins within communities, and residents are usually the first to notice when something changes.
They know who lives in their villages. They understand the normal movement of people. They can identify abandoned buildings, unfamiliar faces, suspicious gatherings and unusual activities long before such information reaches formal security agencies.
Governor Eno presented this position during a strategic engagement with Village Youth Presidents drawn from communities across Akwa Ibom State.
The gathering was more than a meeting between the government and youth leaders. It marked the beginning of a structured partnership designed to improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community vigilance and give young people a defined role in maintaining peace.
According to the Governor, the village remains the first point of contact in any effective security system. Residents understand their environment and can quickly recognise developments that appear unusual or threatening.
This local knowledge gives Village Youth Presidents a strategic advantage.
They are close to the people. They understand the social relationships within their communities. They know the roads, footpaths, waterways, markets, schools and public facilities. They also interact regularly with young people, who may possess information that formal security officers cannot easily obtain.
By integrating the youth leaders into the state’s security framework, the government is creating a communication bridge between residents, traditional institutions, local government authorities and security agencies.
Look at it from this other perspective
A group of young people begins gathering regularly in an unfinished building on the outskirts of a community. Residents hear motorcycles arriving late at night, but no one knows the purpose of the meetings.
A trained Village Youth President would not be expected to confront the group or conduct an independent investigation. Instead, the youth leader would gather basic information, avoid spreading rumours and report the matter through the approved security channel.
The new initiative does not turn Village Youth Presidents into police officers. It positions them as community observers, information channels and partners in early warning.
Their role is to help credible information move quickly from the village to the agencies authorised to investigate and respond.
Governor Eno also made it clear that the initiative would not provide protection for individuals involved in criminal activities.
Holding the position of Village Youth President will not shield anyone from investigation or prosecution. The responsibility demands integrity, discipline and loyalty to the community.
A youth leader who conceals criminals, supports unlawful activity or uses the position to intimidate residents would undermine the purpose of the programme. Such conduct would attract accountability rather than protection.
To improve coordination, the Governor directed Local Government Chairmen to appoint Security Supervisors in councils where such officers have not been designated.
The supervisors will serve as links among Village Youth Presidents, Community Watch groups, local government authorities and security agencies.
This structure is expected to reduce confusion over where information should be submitted and who should coordinate responses at the local government level.
The Governor also directed security agencies to develop training programmes for the youth leaders.
The training will be essential because intelligence gathering requires more than receiving rumours or repeating accusations.
Participants will need to understand how to identify relevant information, protect the identity of informants, avoid false allegations, document incidents and report concerns through authorised channels.
They will also need guidance on personal safety, conflict prevention, human rights and the limits of their responsibilities.
Without proper training, community intelligence can become vulnerable to political rivalry, personal disputes and misinformation. With training and supervision, however, it can become a valuable early warning system.
Governor Eno further announced plans to expand the state’s Quick Response Force across the ten federal constituencies.
The expansion is intended to improve emergency response by placing security teams closer to communities. Intelligence has limited value when the response arrives too late. A wider operational presence could help security agencies act more quickly when credible threats are reported.
The Governor also introduced a reward system for actionable intelligence, extending the familiar public message, “If you see something, say something,” to include the possibility of receiving a reward.
Under the arrangement, individuals who provide credible information that helps prevent crime, protect public property or support the arrest of suspects may receive appropriate recognition.
For example, a resident who reports plans to vandalise a public transformer could help prevent an entire community from being thrown into darkness. A farmer who identifies an unfamiliar hideout near a remote footpath could provide information that leads security officers to stolen property or wanted suspects.
The reward system is intended to encourage responsible reporting. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on proper verification to ensure that innocent people are not targeted through false claims.
Beyond security, Governor Eno encouraged the Village Youth Presidents to support civic participation and community development.
He urged them to work with Village Heads, Clan Heads, Paramount Rulers, Local Government Chairmen and security agencies. He also asked them to mobilise residents for public programmes, including the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
This wider responsibility reflects the government’s view that security and development are connected.
A peaceful village is more likely to attract investment, support education, protect infrastructure and create opportunities for young people. A community affected by fear, vandalism and criminal activity struggles to sustain development.
Governor Eno recalled that his administration established the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways after assuming office on May 29, 2023. The ministry was created to strengthen coordination and respond to security concerns across communities and waterways.
He commended security agencies for their efforts in maintaining peace and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting national security institutions.
The engagement with the 2,272 Village Youth Presidents represents a shift towards community centred security.
It acknowledges that police patrols, surveillance systems and emergency teams remain important, but they cannot replace the knowledge possessed by people who live within the communities.
A stranger entering a village may not immediately attract the attention of a distant security formation. Residents, however, may notice where the person went, whom the person met and whether the movement fits the normal pattern of community life.
That local awareness is the foundation of the initiative.
The success of the programme will depend on trust, training, accountability and cooperation. Residents must feel safe when reporting concerns. Youth leaders must handle information responsibly. Traditional institutions must support the process. Security agencies must respond professionally and protect credible sources.
At the end of the meeting, the Village Youth Presidents renewed their commitment to supporting the government in maintaining peace, protecting public infrastructure and improving intelligence gathering.
Their task now extends beyond representing young people at village meetings.
They are being asked to become responsible links in a security chain that begins with observation in the community and ends with a coordinated response from the appropriate authorities.
In this emerging model, the village is no longer treated as the last place government information reaches.
It becomes the point where security begins.