The Katsina State Police Command has warned politicians against recruiting or sponsoring youths to engage in electoral violence, declaring that anyone involved in such activities will be identified, investigated, arrested and prosecuted regardless of political status or affiliation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Fage, gave the warning on Thursday during the 2026 International Youth Day celebration held at the Katsina State Police Command Headquarters.
Fage, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, DCP Aminu Gusau, said the command had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to electoral violence, cybercrime and other forms of criminality.
He said the command’s cybercrime units and intelligence operatives were monitoring digital platforms to tackle online hate speech, electoral misinformation, cyber-harassment and other forms of digital subversion.
According to him, perpetrators of online incitement and cyber-related offences would face arrest and prosecution under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act and other relevant laws.
Fage urged youths not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of political violence, noting that politicians who recruit young people for thuggery often protect their own children from such activities.
“Political thuggery is not employment; it is structured self-sabotage. Do not trade your future for temporary political patronage,” he warned.
As part of activities marking the International Youth Day celebration, the command launched a campaign tagged “My Future Is Greater Than Political Thuggery”, aimed at discouraging electoral violence, youth exploitation, digital manipulation and cyber-vandalism ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The Commissioner also warned against what he described as digital thuggery, saying online attacks, hate speech, blackmail and deliberate dissemination of false information pose threats to democracy, peace and national security.
He advised youths to verify information before sharing it online and use technology for innovation, entrepreneurship and national development rather than conflict.
Fage said peaceful elections were critical to achieving the aspirations of Nigerian youths, including job creation, quality education, technological advancement, security and improved infrastructure.
The command also unveiled a Police-Youth Dialogue Forum to promote direct engagement between police leadership and youths on security, crime prevention, public trust, responsible citizenship and community policing.
The event was attended by the Katsina State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Surajo Yazid Abukur; the State Chairperson of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, Hajiya Farida Aliyu; and a representative of the Council of Ulama, Malam Lawal Kuraye, among other stakeholders.
