Misinformation, Threat To Nigeria Police — IGP Egbetokun

The inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has described misinformation as one of the tools used to damage the image of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The IGP said there was a growing trend of misinformation circulating across digital platforms, old videos resurfaced as recent events, edited images presented as truth, and misleading narratives deliberately crafted to distort public perception and the Nigeria Police has been the biggest victim of such misinformation and manipulations.

According to him, “No public institution in Nigeria has suffered more reputational damage from misinformation than the Nigeria Police Force.”

The IGP, who stated this at the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officers’ Conference in Abuja on Monday, noted that, “while we must acknowledge that it is neither strategic nor feasible for the inspector-general or the Force Headquarters to respond to every distorted claim or sensational falsehood, silence is no more an option.

“The responsibility lies with you, the public relations officers across commands and formations, to respond swiftly, accurately, and responsibly at the point where such misinformation emerges. You are the first line of defence in the information ecosystem, and your vigilance, clarity, and professionalism are critical to ensuring that misinformation does not become accepted reality.”

The IGP further charged the Police PROs, noting that “as custodians of the public image of the Nigeria Police Force, your responsibilities go far beyond issuing press releases. You are strategic advisers to commands on communication, managers of stakeholder relationships, coordinators of crisis communication, and defenders of the institutional reputation of the Force. Your work directly influences how our operations are perceived and whether our efforts translate into public confidence.

“In an age where silence is interpreted, and narrative vacuums are exploited, you must be prepared not only to speak, but to speak with purpose. Not only to clarify, but to engage. Not only to respond, but to lead. A single unguarded statement can erode months of operational success, while a single well-crafted message timely, factual, and empathetic, can calm tension, avert crisis, and earn public trust. I must particularly charge you to take firm, strategic hold of the social media space. It must not be a battlefield where the Force is constantly on the defensive. It must become a tool in your hands. an instrument of truth, reputation protection, public enlightenment, and confidence building. We must lead conversations, not chase them. We must frame narratives, not merely react to them.”

Speaking on the activities of the Nigeria Police, the IGP said: “the Nigeria Police Force is undergoing reforms; wide, deep, and people-focused. These reforms are anchored on fairness, service excellence, accountability, respect for human rights, and partnership with communities. You are the torchbearers of this reform narrative. It is your duty to interpret these reforms to the public clearly, and to ensure that officers within the system understand and internalise them.”

Meanwhile, the Force PRO, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, assured the IGP of continued efforts to improve on the image of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also speaking, representative of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Oluwa Tosin, urged the Police PROs to become more proactive in their engagement with the public.