Egbetokun Tasks Police PROs: Tackle Falsehoods, Defend Force’s Image

 

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday directed Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) across the country to take proactive steps in countering misinformation, warning that silence in today’s digital environment amounts to surrendering the narrative to malicious actors.

Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officers’ Conference in Abuja, the IGP said the rapid spread of distorted claims, manipulated visuals and recycled videos has created an information battlefield the Force can no longer afford to ignore.

While acknowledging that it is neither strategic nor feasible for the Force Headquarters to address every false claim circulating online, Egbetokun insisted that PPROs must act swiftly at the earliest point where misinformation emerges.

“Silence is no longer an option,” he warned. “Public trust today is shaped not only by our operations, but by how those operations are explained, interpreted and understood.”

The IGP said modern policing now extends beyond physical enforcement, stressing that communication has become a core operational tool because public perception influences institutional legitimacy as strongly as enforcement outcomes.

He lamented that no public institution in the country has suffered more reputational damage from misinformation than the Nigeria Police Force, noting that delayed or disjointed communication often allows false narratives to gain traction.

“You must take firm, strategic control of the social media space,” he told the PROs. “It must not be a battlefield where the Police are on the defensive. It should be an instrument of truth, reputation protection, public education and confidence-building. We must lead conversations, not chase them.”

Egbetokun said the digital landscape is increasingly polluted with misleading content presented as fact — including old videos recirculated as fresh incidents and doctored images passed off as genuine.

He described PPROs as the “first line of defence in the information ecosystem,” stressing that their alertness and professionalism are essential in ensuring that falsehoods do not become accepted reality.

The IGP said Monday’s conference provided a platform to strengthen uniform messaging across commands, warning that inconsistency weakens institutional authority. Coherent communication, he noted, helps citizens interpret police actions more accurately, especially in emergencies.

He also reviewed recent administrative adjustments, including new PRO postings and improved communication infrastructure aimed at boosting clarity, response speed and fact-based engagement across formations.

Beyond rebutting misinformation, Egbetokun urged spokespersons to highlight humanitarian aspects of policing — including rescues, conflict mediation and acts of service — to help the public recognise the human face of the Force and rebuild trust.

He cautioned, however, that transparency must not jeopardise investigations or expose sensitive case details. “Confidentiality protects victims and preserves the integrity of ongoing operations,” he said.

Egbetokun further directed PROs to deepen collaboration with journalists, civil society organisations, international partners and community stakeholders, noting that timely cooperation is vital to correcting misinformation before it spreads.

He concluded by emphasising the need for stronger internal communication, saying officers who understand directives and reforms communicate more effectively with the public and project the institution more responsibly.