2027: IGP Disu Warns Politicians Against Using Youths for Violence
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has warned politicians against arming, financing or inciting Nigerian youths to engage in violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu issued the warning in Abuja at the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue, an event organised as part of activities to mark International Youth Day 2026.
The police chief also urged Nigerian youths not to allow politicians to use them as political foot soldiers or instruments of electoral violence.
“Politicians are the ones contesting, but you are the ones who bear the consequences,” Disu said.
He explained that politicians involved in political conflicts could eventually reconcile after an election, while a young person who loses his life as a result of electoral violence would never return home.
Disu Warns Politicians Against Arming Youths
The IGP cautioned politicians against providing weapons, financing violent activities or deliberately provoking young people to cause trouble during the electoral process.
According to him, political competition should not become a reason for young Nigerians to destroy their own future.
He warned that the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate the stockpiling or distribution of weapons, threats against voters or other forms of violence connected with elections.
Disu stressed that the consequences of electoral violence often fall more heavily on ordinary citizens and young people than on the politicians who sponsor or participate in political contests.
He therefore urged youths to understand that allowing themselves to be recruited for political violence could have serious and lasting consequences for their lives.
“Think Before You Share”
The Inspector-General also addressed the growing influence of social media and warned young Nigerians to be careful about the information they consume and share online.
He presented a police awareness message carrying the slogan:
“Think before you type; verify before you share.”
Disu said young people's activities on social media could affect their future because employers and representatives of foreign countries could examine an individual's online history when making decisions about them.
He encouraged youths to verify information before reposting or distributing it, particularly during politically sensitive periods when false information can easily provoke tension, hatred and violence.
The police chief's warning comes as political activities are expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with social media likely to play an increasingly important role in political mobilisation and public debate.
Parents Have a Role to Play
Disu also called on parents to take greater responsibility for guiding their children and monitoring their conduct.
He said parents should not leave the responsibility for the behaviour and moral development of their children entirely to schools or law-enforcement agencies.
According to him, responsible parenting is essential to ensuring that young people make positive choices and avoid activities that could expose them to crime, violence or other dangers.
He urged parents to provide proper guidance and help young people understand the consequences of their decisions, particularly when they are being influenced by political or social pressures.
Youth Leaders Urged to Promote Peace
Government representatives and youth leaders who attended the dialogue also encouraged Nigerian youths to make effective use of the opportunities available to them.
They urged young Nigerians to contribute positively to the country by promoting peace, unity, security and national development.
The speakers stressed that youths should see themselves not merely as participants in political activities but as important stakeholders in the future of Nigeria.
They encouraged them to reject political violence, resist attempts by individuals to exploit them for personal or political interests and use their energy to contribute to the development of their communities.
Focus on 2027 Elections
With Nigeria preparing for the 2027 general elections, concerns over electoral violence, political mobilisation and the use of young people by political actors remain significant.
The IGP's message was therefore directed at both sides of the political equation: politicians who may seek to recruit young people for violent activities and the youths who may be tempted by money, weapons or political promises.
Disu's warning was that politicians may eventually resolve their differences after elections, but young Nigerians who become victims of politically motivated violence could suffer consequences that cannot be reversed.
He consequently urged youths to protect their lives and future by refusing to become instruments of violence.
The police leadership also reiterated that the force would continue to take action against electoral offences, threats to voters, illegal possession of weapons and other activities capable of disrupting peaceful elections.
The message from the dialogue was clear: Nigerian youths have a critical role to play in the 2027 elections, but that role should be one of responsible participation, peace-building and national development—not political violence.