The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians that it will safeguard lives and property and ensure a safe environment for citizens to participate in the 2027 general elections.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, gave the assurance on Thursday at a one-day workshop organised by the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
Disu, who was represented at the event by the Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, said, “The police have the responsibility to protect lives and property, maintain law and order, and provide a secure environment for Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights. We are assuring the citizens this would be done.”
He identified the media as a key partner of the police in ensuring electoral security, stressing that journalists play an important role in influencing public understanding of events during elections.
“The media, on the other hand, has the power to shape how Nigerians understand what is happening around them. That power must be exercised with responsibility,” the IG said.
Disu appealed to journalists to authenticate information before publishing, especially sensitive security-related reports capable of causing panic or sparking confrontation.
“Do not allow the pressure to be first to publish to become more important than the duty to be right,” he said.
He warned that misinformation could circulate quickly on social media, pointing to recycled videos, fake statements and artificial intelligence-generated audio, images and videos as some of the difficulties confronting election reporting.
“A verified news report can calm an anxious community. A responsible journalist can prevent a rumour from becoming violence,” he said.
The Inspector-General also advocated improved communication and collaboration between security agencies and the media ahead of the elections.
He said, “Journalists should know where to obtain authoritative information, how to verify security alerts and whom to contact when conflicting reports emerge.”
Disu further assured that the police would remain available, transparent and responsive to legitimate inquiries from the media.
“The Nigeria Police Force needs the media. The media needs credible security information. Most importantly, Nigeria needs both institutions to work responsibly in the public interest,” he said.
He charged journalists to maintain responsible reporting before, during and after the elections, noting that the post-election period could be equally sensitive.
“The 2027 elections will come and go. Candidates will campaign. Nigerians will vote. Results will be announced.
“But Nigeria will remain. Our communities will remain. And we will continue to live together after the headlines have disappeared,” he said.
The FCT NUJ chairperson, Grace Ike, on her part, urged journalists to safeguard confidential sources, victims and vulnerable witnesses, while refraining from publishing sensitive information that could undermine security operations or put lives at risk.
Ike also encouraged security agencies to maintain open and transparent engagement with journalists and uphold press freedom. She further called on media organisations to improve their fact-checking mechanisms and ensure reporters receive regular training.
She stressed the need for journalists to strike a balance between the public’s right to information and the obligation to prevent harm, noting that responsible journalism could contribute to community safety and increase public trust in the electoral process.
