IGP Warns Politicians Against Recruiting Youths for Political Violence

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has cautioned politicians against recruiting or arming young Nigerians to carry out political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Disu issued the warning on Thursday in Abuja at the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue, organised by the Nigeria Police Force to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.

The police chief said the force would protect the integrity of the electoral process but would not tolerate violence, voter intimidation, destruction of property or the use of weapons for political purposes.

He urged political leaders and actors across the country not to recruit young people to fight political battles, finance violence or incite citizens against one another.

According to him, Nigeria cannot achieve a secure and prosperous future by destroying the generation expected to inherit the country.

Disu also warned that political violence was no longer limited to physical confrontations, noting that social media platforms had increasingly become tools for misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, impersonation, deepfakes and online intimidation.

He said such activities could damage reputations, inflame communities, trigger real-world violence and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.

The IGP therefore called on young Nigerians to verify information before sharing or acting on it, urging them to consider the consequences of their online activities.

He advised youths to establish the facts before publishing allegations and to avoid sharing inflammatory content capable of fuelling tension.

The warning comes amid concerns over recent killings and violent incidents linked to the political atmosphere surrounding the Osun State governorship election.

The Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC), two of the leading parties in the election, recorded casualties among their members, including Dele Ayegbo, nephew of APC campaign director-general Wole Oke, who was reportedly killed shortly before the poll.

The police, however, have maintained that several of the clashes and killings recorded before the election were linked to cult activities rather than political violence.

The IGP’s call underscores growing concerns over the role of young people in political violence and the potential impact of online misinformation and inflammatory content on Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.