The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Victor Olaiya, has urged journalists to shun misinformation and prioritise facts, verification and responsible reporting, warning that inaccurate security reports can trigger panic, distort public perception and undermine public confidence.
Olaiya gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at a two-day media interaction organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the International Institute of Journalism.
The engagement, which focused on “Reporting Security in the Digital Age: Curtailing Misinformation, Preventing Panic and Upholding Fact-Based Journalism in Nigeria,” brings together media professionals and other stakeholders to examine the changing dynamics of security communication in the digital era.
Olaiya noted that security information carries significant power, capable of influencing public perception, shaping behaviour and strengthening confidence in security institutions, but warned that the same information, when mishandled, could create fear, uncertainty and unnecessary tension.
According to him, the speed of digital communication has made the challenge more urgent, as reports, photographs, videos and voice notes can travel across platforms and reach thousands of people before the facts surrounding an incident are properly established.
He cautioned against the practice of presenting old photographs or videos as current events, as well as publishing unverified claims or sensational headlines that could give the public a distorted impression of unfolding security situations.
The AIG stressed that responsible journalism should not merely report events but should also help the public understand them accurately.
He said journalists must source information properly, verify claims before publication and provide the necessary context, particularly when reporting sensitive security incidents.
Olaiya described effective police communication as an important component of effective policing, noting that the public deserves timely, accurate and responsible information from security institutions.
He emphasised that while the Police and the media have different professional responsibilities, both institutions share a common public interest in building a safer, better-informed and more resilient society.
The AIG said the media interaction was designed to strengthen the Police-media relationship, improve mutual understanding of professional realities, identify communication gaps, confront misinformation with facts and promote stronger collaboration.
He encouraged journalists to ask difficult and legitimate questions responsibly, stressing that constructive scrutiny should be welcomed rather than avoided.
“Trust is not built by avoiding scrutiny; it is built by responding to scrutiny with professionalism, transparency and facts,” he said.
Olaiya further stressed that public safety is a shared responsibility requiring the collective efforts of the Police, the media, government institutions, professional bodies and other stakeholders.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja,DCP Adeola Odetunde said the gathering was more than a meeting of professionals, describing it as an opportunity to bring together key actors in Nigeria’s information ecosystem.
He said the Police operate in a society that must remain informed, while the media operates in a society whose security realities require accurate understanding and responsible communication.
The DCP urged participants to make the most of the interaction by actively participating, asking questions, sharing experiences, listening to one another and building professional relationships that would extend beyond the programme.
He appreciated the resource persons and facilitators for their contributions, while also commending sponsors, partners, professional bodies, the media and the planning team for supporting the initiative.
Participants were also encouraged to explore exhibition booths mounted at the venue as part of the activities designed to make the programme informative and engaging.
The organisers further provided opportunities for participants to access basic health services at the Zone 7 Medical Station, including vital signs checks and eye examinations, with free reading glasses available where required.
The DCP described journalists as storytellers whose responsibility extends beyond simply recording events, urging them to capture the conversations, ideas, activities and experiences generated during the engagement and tell the broader story to their audiences.
He said the expectation was for participants to leave the programme with fresh perspectives, useful professional contacts, practical ideas and a renewed appreciation of the respective roles of the Police and the media.
Olaiya, in his keynote, called for a communication environment in which facts travel ahead of rumours, verification precedes publication, context accompanies information and responsible journalism contributes directly to public safety.
The two-day engagement is part of Zone 7’s broader effort to strengthen professional relations with the media and promote accurate, responsible and fact-based security communication at a time when information can shape public perception within minutes.
