The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned politicians against recruiting Nigerian youths as instruments of violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu said political actors must stop using young Nigerians to fight battles that could destroy their future, noting that politicians could reconcile after elections while victims of electoral violence might never return home.
The IGP spoke on Thursday at the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue organised by the Nigeria Police Force to commemorate International Youth Day 2026.
The event had the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” while its campaign was “My Future is Greater than Political and Digital Thuggery.”
Need To Resist
Disu urged youths to resist attempts by politicians to exploit their frustrations and energy for destructive political purposes as preparations intensify for the 2027 electoral cycle.
He said Nigeria’s diversity in ethnicity, religion, geography, culture and political affiliation should not obscure the shared aspirations of young people for security, education, decent livelihoods, justice, dignity and opportunities.
“Politicians contest elections, but you live with the consequences of those elections,” he said, warning youths against allowing themselves to be used to fight political battles that could permanently damage their lives and families.
The IGP said the Nigeria Police Force recognised citizens’ constitutional rights to participate in political activities, support political parties, express their views and campaign for candidates, provided such activities remained peaceful and lawful.
He assured Nigerians that the police would protect citizens, facilitate peaceful campaigns, secure candidates and campaign venues, and safeguard the electoral environment.
Warning
Disu, however, warned that the police would not tolerate the recruitment or mobilisation of youths for violence, possession or use of weapons for electoral purposes, attacks on political opponents, voter intimidation or destruction of public and private property.
“The law will take its course against anyone who crosses that line. And this message is not directed at one political party or one political interest. It is directed at everyone,” Disu said.
The police chief also sent a direct message to political leaders, urging them not to arm, finance or incite youths against fellow Nigerians.
He warned politicians against encouraging young people to commit crimes with promises of protection after the elections.
“Nigeria cannot build a secure and prosperous future by destroying the generation that is expected to inherit that future,” he said.
Disu also identified social media as a new frontier of political conflict, warning that violence could now begin from smartphones before spilling into the streets.
He listed misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, impersonation, deepfakes, online intimidation and coordinated digital attacks among emerging threats capable of inflaming communities and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
He urged young Nigerians to verify information before sharing it and to consider the consequences of inflammatory online activities.
“Think before you click. Verify before you share. Pause before you post,” he said.
The IGP further urged youths to deploy their influence positively by engaging in entrepreneurship, technology, education, creativity, public policy and community development rather than political thuggery.
He said young Nigerians had the power to shape national conversations and influence the country’s future, adding that they must choose leadership and responsibility over violence and destruction.
Disu said the police were seeking a stronger partnership with youths in preventing violence, combating cybercrime, promoting responsible digital citizenship, protecting vulnerable persons and strengthening peaceful democratic participation.
He stressed that security was a shared responsibility involving the police, government, civil society, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
The IGP charged youths to reject recruitment into political violence, refuse to carry weapons for political ambitions and avoid becoming instruments of hate, misinformation and digital intimidation.
He urged them to participate actively, peacefully and lawfully in democracy, reminding them that protecting their future was also protecting Nigeria’s future.
Disu said history would judge the current generation of Nigerian youths by how they responded when the country needed them, urging them to choose peace, innovation, responsible citizenship and democratic values.
“I want history to remember this generation as the generation that refused to be used,” he said.
He added that a Nigeria with educated, skilled, innovative and productive youths would be stronger, while a country whose young people were manipulated into violence, criminality and hatred would be the ultimate loser.
The IGP urged Nigerian youths to protect, build and own their future, declaring that their future was greater than the challenges of today and should be used to build a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
