Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Police Command, has launched an anti-thuggery campaign aimed at preventing the recruitment and exploitation of youths for political violence ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general election.
The campaign, tagged, “My Future is Greater Than Political Thuggery,” was unveiled on yesterday as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day celebration at the command’s headquarters in Katsina.
Unveiling the anti-thuggery campaign, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Umar Fage, warned politicians and other individuals against sponsoring, recruiting or using youths to perpetrate violence before, during and after the election.
Represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, DCP Aminu Usman Gusau, the state police chief said the command would identify, investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders irrespective of their political status or affiliation.
He said the campaign was designed not only to discourage physical violence and coordinated attacks, but also to tame digital thuggery such as hate speech, cyber-harassment, blackmail and the spread of false information.
He disclosed that the command’s cybercrime units and intelligence operatives were monitoring digital platforms to identify activities capable of undermining peace, democracy and national security.
He further explained that perpetrators of online incitement and cyber-related offences would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act and other relevant laws of the country.
Declaring the command’s zero-tolerance stance against electoral violence and other forms of criminality, Fage urged youths to reject political thuggery and shun any act capable of truncating peaceful elections in the country.
“Young people should not allow themselves to be used as instruments for violence by politicians seeking to advance their interests. Political thuggery is not employment; it is structured self-sabotage. Do not trade your future for temporary political patronage,” Fage said.
He noted that politicians who recruit youths for violent activities often protect their own children from such dangers, urging the youths to consider the long-term consequences of allowing themselves to be used for political violence.
Fage admonished the youths to always verify the authenticity of information before sharing it online and use their digital platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship, education and other productive activities rather than political conflict.
He said peaceful elections were essential to achieving the aspirations of Nigerian youths, particularly in the areas of employment, quality education, technological development, security and infrastructure.