BY AHMED AKANBI
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, have warned journalists and citizen journalists against misinformation in security reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying false reports could heighten tension and threaten public safety.
The warning was given on Wednesday at a one-day workshop organised by the NUJ FCT Council themed, “Responsible Security Reporting in the Age of Citizen Journalism: Protecting Nigeria’s Stability Ahead of the 2027 Elections.”
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, represented by the Director of the National Cybercrime Centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezimma, said election security is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and the media.
”The media has the power to shape how Nigerians understand what is happening around them. That power must be exercised with responsibility,” the IGP said.
He warned that false information spread through old photos, videos, fabricated statements and AI-generated content could trigger fear, confusion and confrontation during elections.
Disu urged journalists to adopt the principle of “Stop! Check! Confirm! Report!” instead of rushing to break news at the expense of accuracy.
Similarly, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, represented by DCP Ibrahim Jibrin, stressed the need for rigorous verification before publication and assured journalists of access to credible information.
He said responsible reporting can calm tension and support security operations, while unverified and sensational reports create panic and distrust.
Earlier, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, said the workshop was aimed at helping journalists balance the public’s right to information with the duty to prevent avoidable harm.
Ike said the training focused on verification of eyewitness materials, contextual reporting, source protection, ethical restraint and detection of deepfakes and manipulated content.
She pledged the council’s support for journalists on the security beat through training, legal protection and mental health support, while urging security agencies to respect press freedom.
In goodwill messages, retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, and resource persons, including former NUJ Chairman, Abduljelil Adebayo and CJID Deputy Director, Busola Ajibola, called for stronger fact-checking and ethical guidelines for citizen journalists.
They urged newsrooms to label unverified claims, avoid sensational headlines that inflame ethnic or religious tension, invest in verification tools and protect vulnerable sources as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
BY AHMED AKANBI
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, have warned journalists and citizen journalists against misinformation in security reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying false reports could heighten tension and threaten public safety.
The warning was given on Wednesday at a one-day workshop organised by the NUJ FCT Council themed, “Responsible Security Reporting in the Age of Citizen Journalism: Protecting Nigeria’s Stability Ahead of the 2027 Elections.”
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, represented by the Director of the National Cybercrime Centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezimma, said election security is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and the media.
”The media has the power to shape how Nigerians understand what is happening around them. That power must be exercised with responsibility,” the IGP said.
He warned that false information spread through old photos, videos, fabricated statements and AI-generated content could trigger fear, confusion and confrontation during elections.
Disu urged journalists to adopt the principle of “Stop! Check! Confirm! Report!” instead of rushing to break news at the expense of accuracy.
Similarly, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, represented by DCP Ibrahim Jibrin, stressed the need for rigorous verification before publication and assured journalists of access to credible information.
He said responsible reporting can calm tension and support security operations, while unverified and sensational reports create panic and distrust.
Earlier, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, said the workshop was aimed at helping journalists balance the public’s right to information with the duty to prevent avoidable harm.
Ike said the training focused on verification of eyewitness materials, contextual reporting, source protection, ethical restraint and detection of deepfakes and manipulated content.
She pledged the council’s support for journalists on the security beat through training, legal protection and mental health support, while urging security agencies to respect press freedom.
In goodwill messages, retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, and resource persons, including former NUJ Chairman, Abduljelil Adebayo and CJID Deputy Director, Busola Ajibola, called for stronger fact-checking and ethical guidelines for citizen journalists.
They urged newsrooms to label unverified claims, avoid sensational headlines that inflame ethnic or religious tension, invest in verification tools and protect vulnerable sources as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.