POLICE LAUNCH YOUTH CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT ELECTION VIOLENCE BEFORE 2027

POLICE LAUNCH YOUTH CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT ELECTION VIOLENCE BEFORE 2027

By Jennifer Nwosu 

As Nigeria looks toward the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Police Force is turning its' attention to one of the most persistent features of the country’s election cycles; the recruitment of young people into political violence.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has launched a national campaign aimed at discouraging youths from becoming foot soldiers in political conflicts while confronting a newer arena of the digital space.

The initiative, titled “My Future Is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery,” was unveiled during a National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue held in Abuja to mark International Youth Day 2026. The programme adopted the international theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

The campaign comes as political activity begins to build ahead of the 2027 elections, with the police seeking to intervene before violence occurs rather than primarily responding after young people have already been drawn into it.

For decades, young Nigerians have often found themselves at the frontline of political disputes, where campaign rivalries can turn into street clashes, intimidation and destruction. The aftermath, however, frequently outlasts the political contests that produced it.

The police are now warning youths to consider who ultimately pays the price when political competition becomes violent.

A political dispute can end with negotiations between rival camps. For a young person caught in the violence, the consequences can be far more permanent including death, life-changing injuries, arrest or the loss of property and livelihoods.

The new campaign also broadens the definition of political thuggery to include activities taking place online.

Social media has become an important battleground for political mobilization, but it can also be used to spread inflammatory content, manipulate public opinion and encourage confrontation. The police therefore intend the campaign to address both physical and digital forms of youth exploitation.

Instead of waiting for election-related violence to erupt, the Nigeria Police Force wants young Nigerians to recognize attempts to recruit or manipulate them and to understand the long-term consequences of becoming involved.

The campaign also positions youths as participants in Nigeria's security conversation rather than simply as potential offenders. The police are seeking greater engagement with young Nigerians as the country prepares for another major electoral cycle.

With the 2027 elections still ahead, the initiative reflects an attempt to move the conversation from what happens after violence to what can be done before it begins.