Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has warned that no public institution in Nigeria has suffered more reputational damage from misinformation than the Nigeria Police Force. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Police Public Relations Officers’ Conference in Abuja on Monday, he highlighted the threat posed by recycled videos, edited images, and misleading online narratives.
Egbetokun stressed the importance of timely and professional responses from Public Relations Officers across all commands. “While it is neither strategic nor feasible for the Inspector-General or the Force Headquarters to respond to every distorted claim, silence is no longer an option. You, the PR Officers, are the first line of defence,” he said.
The IGP emphasized that communication is now as crucial as operational deployment, noting that public trust and transparency increasingly define the legitimacy of law enforcement globally. He urged officers to proactively anticipate misinformation, issue factual and respectful rebuttals, and ensure messaging is accurate, verified, and consistent.
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Egbetokun also called for stronger engagement with journalists, civil society organizations, community leaders, and international partners, stressing that effective communication is central to the future of policing in Nigeria.
The annual conference gathers Police Public Relations Officers nationwide to review strategies, strengthen public engagement, and address challenges in digital-era policing, particularly misinformation and crisis communication.
