The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adewale Ajao, has linked Nigeria’s rising insecurity to the steady erosion of cultural values and community ethics.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting themed “You Against Crime” in Abuja, Ajao lamented that many Nigerians, especially the youth, no longer uphold cultural practices that once promoted social discipline and trust.
“When did we become our brothers’ killer?” he asked. “It is not our culture. In the past, it was a crime to even stand near someone smoking cigarettes. Today, our youths openly smoke Indian hemp and celebrate it on social media.”
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He recalled a time when honesty and trust shaped rural life. “On farm routes, you could see tubers of yam placed by the roadside with stones marking the price. People picked what they needed, dropped money, and the owner later collected it. Now, people plan bank robberies. How did we get here?”
Ajao stressed that insecurity cannot be solved by security agencies alone. He warned that Nigeria faces a dangerous “youth bulge” that could worsen the crisis if left unchecked.
“We must take the battle back to the community. When we get it right there, we will get it right everywhere. Culture is a cure to crime and criminality,” he said.
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Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, also spoke at the meeting. She argued that crime thrives when families break down, women lack empowerment, and youths feel alienated.
“To win the war against crime, we must move beyond punitive measures to preventive and rehabilitative strategies that reflect the realities of our people,” she said. “Culture humanizes policy, sustains security, and turns our diversity into a collective weapon against decay.”
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
