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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, has called for urgent and coordinated action to confront the growing threat of youth violence in Osun State, warning that the state cannot afford to allow violence, cultism and political thuggery to become normalised.
Adegoke, who described the situation as a matter requiring immediate attention from government, security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, parents and political actors, declared that “enough is enough”.
According to him, the response to youth violence must go beyond reacting after lives have been lost. Government must identify the conditions that push young people towards crime and violence and address them before they become security emergencies.
He stressed that creating meaningful economic opportunities for young people must be treated as part of the state’s security strategy.
Adegoke called for greater opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, technology, construction, manufacturing, logistics, creative industries, sports, tourism, renewable energy and skilled trades.
He argued that a young person with a genuine opportunity to build a livelihood is less vulnerable to recruitment into violent groups, cult networks and political gangs.
The APC candidate also called for a structured rehabilitation and reintegration programme for youths already involved in cultism and other forms of criminality, provided that such interventions are properly regulated and accompanied by appropriate law-enforcement measures.
Adegoke further urged government to strengthen measures against drug abuse, warning that substance abuse can intensify violent behaviour and make vulnerable young people easier targets for criminal recruitment.
He called for stronger collaboration with relevant agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as well as community-based prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.
Adegoke said law-enforcement agencies must operate professionally, impartially and without political interference. He stressed that justice must be even-handed and that the identity or political connections of those involved in violence should not determine how the law is applied.
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He also challenged political leaders to stop recruiting or encouraging young people to serve as instruments of political violence.
“Youths must not be turned into weapons for political ambitions,” he said, urging young people not to kill for politicians or surrender their future to political interests.
Adegoke also proposed the establishment of stronger community-based early-warning and mediation mechanisms to identify tensions before they escalate into violence.
He called for schools to give greater attention to conflict resolution, civic responsibility and peaceful engagement, arguing that prevention must begin before young people become involved in violent networks.
He proposed an Osun Youth Peace and Security Summit, bringing together government, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups, schools, parents and community leaders.
The summit, he said, should produce a measurable Osun Youth Peace and Security Action Plan, with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines and mechanisms for monitoring implementation.
Adegoke urged the state government to move from occasional reactions to a sustained strategy capable of addressing the economic, social and security dimensions of youth violence.
He also called on parents and community leaders to strengthen mentorship and supervision of young people, stressing that the responsibility for preventing youth violence cannot be left entirely to security agencies.
