The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has urged journalists to guard against the spread of fake news and unverified reports capable of threatening national security as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Disu emphasised that responsible journalism would be critical to maintaining public confidence, preventing political tension and ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
The police chief made the call at the Annual Conference and Awards of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, held in Abuja, where media practitioners and security stakeholders examined the dangers of misinformation and the media’s role in addressing emerging security challenges.
The conference, themed, “Navigating Security Challenges in the 2027 Election: The Role of the Media in Combating Fake News,” highlighted concerns over the increasing use of digital platforms to circulate misleading reports, manipulated videos and fabricated information.
The IGP stressed the importance of effective security communication and collaboration with the media, recognising crime correspondents as important partners in informing citizens and promoting public safety.
The call comes as the Nigeria Police Force intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, including a nationwide training programme designed to equip officers with the skills required to manage election-related security challenges.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, disclosed at the conference that the training programme, launched by the IGP about three weeks earlier, was still ongoing.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen police readiness, improve operational capacity and ensure the protection of lives and property throughout the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of CCAN, Festus Fifen, warned that misinformation could trigger communal violence, disrupt security operations and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
He urged journalists to embrace conflict-sensitive reporting, verify information before publication and avoid sensational headlines that could aggravate political, ethnic and religious divisions.
Fifen also called for stronger engagement between security agencies and crime correspondents, including their participation in pre-election security simulations and other relevant planning activities.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, cautioned media practitioners against prioritising speed over accuracy, urging them to authenticate security-related information before disseminating it.
She emphasised that the media must play an active role in educating voters, countering false narratives and promoting peaceful participation in the elections.
The conference concluded with calls for improved journalists’ safety, better welfare, enhanced police capacity and sustained cooperation between security institutions and the media ahead of the 2027 general elections.
