Clarion NewsChannel TV
December 8, 2025
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, has charged Police Public Relations Officers (PROs) across the nation to take firm control of the information space, counter misinformation, and lead narratives that rebuild public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
The IGP gave the charge on Monday, December 8, 2025, while declaring open the Annual Conference of Police Public Relations Officers at the Police Resource Centre in Abuja.
In a decisive keynote address, IGP Egbetokun described the conference as “a strategic national engagement,” emphasizing that the success of modern policing “is increasingly determined by public trust, transparency, and the quality of communication.”
The Police Chief stated that the Public Relations function has evolved into a “frontline operational instrument” in today’s security landscape, where misinformation and perception management pose significant threats.
“The battle for the mind is now as critical as the battle against crime, and you, our Public Relations Officers, stand as commanders on the front line of that battle,” he declared.
He commended the PROs for their resilience in navigating a volatile information environment, fighting falsehoods, and defending the truth under immense pressure.
IGP Egbetokun announced ongoing investments in modern communication infrastructure, digital tools, and capacity building to empower PROs. He highlighted recent postings of PROs across commands and granted operational autonomy to enhance responsiveness.
A significant portion of his speech focused on the digital arena. The IGP directed PROs to strategically dominate social media, transforming it from a “battlefield” into a tool for truth and confidence-building.
“We must lead conversations, not chase them. We must frame narratives, not merely react to them,” he asserted.
He specifically addressed the damaging trend of misinformation, where old videos and edited images are used to distort the Force’s image. “No public institution in Nigeria has suffered more reputational damage from misinformation than the Nigeria Police Force,” he noted, tasking PROs to be the “first line of defence” by issuing swift, accurate rebuttals at the point where falsehoods emerge.
Positioning the PROs as “torchbearers” of the Force’s ongoing reforms, the IGP urged them to clearly communicate the transformation agenda anchored on fairness, accountability, and human rights.
Beyond crime statistics, he charged them to humanize the Force by telling “stories of compassion, service, and sacrifice.”
“Nigerians must see the human face of policing… This is how we gradually rebuild and sustain trust,” Egbetokun stated.
The Inspector-General urged a shift from reactive to proactive communication, advising PROs to anticipate issues and prepare credible narratives. He stressed the sacred duty of balancing transparency with confidentiality in sensitive cases.
“Your work must reflect the ethics of the profession: decency, integrity, fairness, empathy, and responsibility… You stand in a delicate space where every statement can either build confidence or fuel suspicion,” he cautioned.
He also emphasized building collaborative partnerships with the media and civil society, describing them as allies in public enlightenment, not adversaries.
The IGP expressed expectations that the conference would serve as a platform for learning, alignment, and renewal. He encouraged PROs to engage deeply with sessions on digital media dynamics, crisis response, and ethical standards.
“When you leave this hall… you must leave better equipped, better aligned, and better motivated to serve this nation with clarity, confidence, and renewed vision,” he said.
In his closing remarks, IGP Egbetokun framed effective communication as pivotal to the future of policing in Nigeria, stating, “You hold the frontline of the narrative that defines the Nigeria Police Force in the hearts and minds of our people.”
The conference is expected to run through the week, featuring presentations, workshops, and strategy sessions led by experts in communication, media, and security.
IGP EGBETOKUN URGES POLICE PROs TO LEAD INFORMATION WAR AGAINST MISINFORMATION, REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST
– Declares open 2025 Police Public Relations Officers’ Conference in Abuja
