The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned Nigerian politicians against recruiting or arming young people to carry out political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu issued the warning on Thursday in Abuja during the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue, organised by the Nigeria Police Force to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.
The IGP said the police would protect the integrity of the electoral process but would not tolerate violence, voter intimidation, destruction of property or the possession and use of weapons for electoral purposes.
According to TheCable, Disu appealed to political leaders not to recruit, arm or finance young Nigerians to attack their opponents.
He also urged politicians not to incite youths or encourage them to commit crimes with promises of protection afterwards.
Disu warned that political violence was no longer limited to physical confrontations, saying it could also begin online through misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, impersonation, deepfakes and coordinated digital attacks.
He urged young Nigerians to verify information before sharing or acting on it, stressing the importance of responsible use of social media.
The police chief’s warning comes amid concerns over violence linked to recent political activities, including killings and clashes surrounding the Osun governorship election.
The two leading parties in Osun, Accord and the All Progressives Congress, recorded losses of members during the period. Dele Ayegbo, nephew of APC campaign director-general Wole Oke, was reportedly shot dead two days before the election.
The police, however, have maintained that several of the pre-election clashes and killings were cult-related rather than politically motivated.
