He urged young people to report suspected criminals to law enforcement agencies …
By TheInvestigator
The Cross River State Chapter Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Olayi Emmanuel, has condemned the rising incidents of mob violence in Nigeria, stressing that the youth body will not tolerate such acts.
Speaking during an awareness campaign against mob violence in Calabar today (Friday) by Amnesty International Nigeria, Olayi emphasised that young people often play a major role in such violence, either as perpetrators or victims, and must now take the lead in ending the practice.
“As a council, we say a complete no to mob action. We say no to crime, no to stealing, and no to all forms of criminality. If there is no criminality, people will not take the law into their hands,” Olayi stated.
He urged young people to report suspected criminals to law enforcement agencies rather than resort to jungle justice, adding that the public must help rebuild trust between communities and security operatives.
“We must bridge the trust gap between the people and the authorities. If you’re a police officer, punish offenders accordingly instead of freeing them in exchange for resources. Leaders, too, must stop shielding criminals because they are relatives or political supporters,” he warned.
On accusations of witchcraft often linked to mob violence in the State, Olayi described the trend as a dangerous misconception, especially when it targets children.
“It is sad when people say someone is a witch or wizard without proof. The most painful cases are young children whose parents give them out to work in the city due to poverty. Labelling a child like that destroys their self-esteem and future,” he noted.
The NYCN Cross River chapter chairman stressed the need for responsible parenting, urging families to have only the number of children they can adequately care for.
Olayi also pledged that the Youth Council is ready to partner with local and international organisations to take the anti-mob violence campaign beyond Calabar.
“Now that we have done this in Calabar, we must ask how we get to Boki, how we get to Obudu. With our structures across the state, we can drive home the message even more,” he assured.
