Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to politicians to desist from using youths by providing them with weapons and drugs to fight their rivals ahead of the 2027 elections.
Disu gave this warning on Thursday, August 19, 2026, in Abuja during a national youth leadership and security dialogue organized by the Nigeria Police Force to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.
He added that the force will not tolerate violence, the use of weapons in electoral processes, voter intimidation, or the destruction of public property.
Disu urged political leaders not to recruit youths, arm them, or sponsor violence. He added that committing such crimes could destroy the country's future.
The IGP also warned against political violence occurring on social media, particularly involving the spread of fake news, hate speech, cyberbullying, and impersonation.
The police chief advised youths to verify the authenticity of information they receive on communication platforms before spreading it, and called on them to avoid things that could trigger conflict or violence during political campaigns.
Disu's remarks come shortly after reports of killings and attacks following the recent Osun State gubernatorial election, held on Addabar, during which the Accord and APC parties lost some of their members.
Among those involved in the conflict who lost their lives were: Dele Ayegbo, brother of Wole Oke, Director General of the APC campaign in the state, who reports say was shot two days before the election.
However, the national police force insisted that some of the clashes and killings that occurred prior to the Osun election were linked to cult groups, rather than being direct political violence.