Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has warned political actors against recruiting, arming or financing young Nigerians to attack perceived political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections.

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

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

“We will protect the integrity of the electoral environment. But let me be equally clear, we will not protect violence. We will not tolerate the recruitment or mobilisation of young Nigerians for political violence,”

he said.

Disu appealed to political leaders and actors across the political spectrum to stop using youths as instruments for political violence.

“I therefore appeal to political leaders and actors across the political spectrum: do not recruit our young people to fight your political battles. Do not arm them. Do not finance violence. Do not incite them against their fellow citizens. Do not encourage them to commit crimes today and promise to protect them tomorrow.

“Nigeria cannot build a secure and prosperous future by destroying the generation that is expected to inherit that future.”

The IGP also urged young Nigerians to resist political or other influences capable of pushing them into violence, noting that political violence had expanded beyond physical confrontations to the digital space.

“It can begin on a smartphone. Misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, impersonation, deepfakes, online intimidation, and coordinated digital attacks,”

he said.

According to Disu, such activities could damage reputations, inflame communities, trigger real-world violence and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.

He urged youths to verify information before sharing or acting on content circulating online.

“To every young Nigerian holding a smartphone, I say: your digital footprint is part of your citizenship. Before you forward a message, verify it. Before you publish an allegation, establish the facts,”

Disu said.

He added:

“Before you attack someone online, remember that there is a human being behind the screen. Before you share inflammatory content, ask yourself one question: ‘Will this build Nigeria or burn Nigeria?’”

The IGP’s warning comes against the backdrop of killings and attacks recorded around the recent Osun State governorship election.