The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has warned Nigerian youths against allowing themselves to be recruited for political violence or manipulated into digital thuggery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu gave the warning while addressing the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue organised by the Nigeria Police Force to commemorate International Youth Day 2026, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” and the campaign, “My Future Is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery.”
The IGP said the dialogue was particularly important as Nigeria approaches another electoral season, stressing that despite the country’s ethnic, religious, geographical, cultural and political diversity, young Nigerians share common aspirations for a secure future, quality education, decent livelihoods, justice, dignity and meaningful opportunities.
He urged youths not to sacrifice these aspirations on the altar of political expediency, criminality or violence.
According to Disu, politicians may reconcile after elections, but young Nigerians who lose their lives or suffer permanent injuries as a result of electoral violence will have to live with the consequences.
“Politicians contest elections, but you live with the consequences of those elections,” he said, warned youths not to allow anyone to use them to fight political battles that could ultimately destroy their own future.
The IGP assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force would respect and protect the constitutional rights of citizens to participate in political activities, support political parties, express their opinions and campaign for candidates of their choice, provided such activities remained peaceful and lawful.
He said the Force would protect citizens, facilitate peaceful campaigns, secure candidates and campaign venues, safeguard public spaces and work to protect the integrity of the electoral environment.
Disu, however, drew a clear line between lawful political participation and criminality, declaring that the Police would not protect violence.
He warned that the Force would not tolerate the recruitment or mobilisation of young Nigerians for political violence, possession or use of weapons for electoral purposes, attacks on political opponents, voter intimidation, destruction of public or private property or other criminal conduct disguised as political participation.
“The law will take its course against anyone who crosses that line,” the IGP said, stressing that the warning applied to all political parties and interests.
Disu also appealed to political leaders and actors across the political spectrum not to recruit young Nigerians to fight their political battles.
He urged politicians not to arm or finance youths for violence, incite them against fellow citizens or encourage them to commit crimes with promises of future protection.
“Nigeria cannot build a secure and prosperous future by destroying the generation that is expected to inherit that future,” he said.
The IGP urged young Nigerians to position themselves as drivers of national transformation rather than instruments of destruction.
Disu also identified digital thuggery as a growing threat to Nigeria’s peace, security and democratic process, noting that political violence was no longer restricted to the streets but could begin with activities carried out on smartphones.
He listed misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, impersonation, deepfakes, online intimidation and coordinated digital attacks among the emerging threats capable of damaging reputations, inflaming communities, provoking real-world violence and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
The IGP therefore urged young Nigerians to exercise caution in their use of social media.
“Before you forward a message, verify it. Before you publish an allegation, establish the facts. Before you attack someone online, remember that there is a human being behind the screen,” he said.
Disu urged youths to adopt the message: “Think before you click. Verify before you share. Pause before you post.”
The IGP reminded Nigerian youths that their voices matter in their communities, schools, workplaces, online spaces and the democratic process, but stressed that influence comes with responsibility.
He said youths have the power to shape public conversations, challenge injustice, mobilise communities, create businesses, develop technology, influence public policy and redefine Nigeria’s future.
He urged them not to surrender that influence to individuals seeking to manipulate it for destructive purposes.
“You have a choice. You can choose to be used, or you can choose to lead. You can choose violence, or you can choose peace. You can choose destruction, or you can choose innovation,” he said.
Disu said the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue was not merely about telling young Nigerians what not to do, but about building a partnership that would provide them with positive alternatives.
He said the Nigeria Police Force wanted to engage youths as partners in building safer communities, preventing violence, combating cybercrime, promoting responsible digital citizenship, protecting vulnerable persons and strengthening peaceful democratic participation.
He emphasised that security was not the sole responsibility of the Police but a shared responsibility requiring the support of government, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders.
The IGP commended the partners and sponsors of the programme for investing in young Nigerians, describing youths as the country’s most important resource.
Disu charged Nigerian youths to reject recruitment for violence, refuse to carry weapons for political interests, avoid becoming instruments of misinformation, hate and digital intimidation, and participate actively, peacefully and lawfully in the democratic process.
“Protect your future. Because your future is not yours alone. Your future is Nigeria’s future,” he said.
He noted that a Nigeria with educated, skilled, innovative and productive young people would be stronger, while a country whose youths were manipulated into violence, criminality and hatred would ultimately lose.
The IGP challenged the younger generation to consider how history would judge their role in shaping Nigeria’s future.
He urged them to choose peace over violence, innovation over destruction, responsible citizenship over criminality and leadership over manipulation.
“I want history to remember this generation as the generation that refused to be used; the generation that chose peace over violence; the generation that chose innovation over destruction; the generation that chose responsible citizenship over criminality; the generation that protected democracy; and the generation that built a better Nigeria,” Disu said.
He subsequently declared the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue commemorating International Youth Day 2026 formally open, urged young Nigerians to protect, build and own their future for a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
