Nigeria Police Chief Targets Fake News Ahead of Elections

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatuunji Disu, stated that the Nigeria Police Force will identify and prosecute individuals spreading fake news and misleading digital content that could incite public panic, especially as the country approaches the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the annual conference of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Disu highlighted the police's enhanced cybercrime monitoring and digital forensic capabilities.

He emphasized the importance of responding quickly to false reports and warned that misinformation could undermine voter participation and confidence in the electoral process. Disu outlined a proactive communication strategy to debunk false claims with verifiable evidence and proposed a verification channel with the Crime Correspondents Association to assist accredited reporters.

He urged journalists to verify security incidents before publication and to distinguish between confirmed facts and unverified claims. Festus Fifen, Chairman of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, called for stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies to address digital threats.