Disu raised concerns over unregulated police videos, warning against misleading online content

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against the indiscriminate recording and circulation of videos involving police officers, warning that this increasing trend could disrupt security operations, spread misinformation and negatively impact personnel carrying out their duties.

The police chief issued the warning in an interactive session with members of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday, where he expressed concern over the increasing practice of recording officers during routine and sensitive duties and sharing such recordings online without adequate context.

While reiterating the Nigerian Police’s commitment to accountability and transparency, Disu stressed that public engagement with law enforcement agencies must be conducted responsibly.

“Yes, accountability is important, and we remain committed to transparency. However, recording and public interactions involving police officers must be done responsibly and must not be used to harass officers or undermine operational effectiveness,” he said.

According to the Inspector General, police officers often operate in difficult and dangerous circumstances while protecting lives and property, so the public and media need to avoid actions that could demoralize dedicated personnel.

He noted that accountability must be balanced with the realities of policing and the well-being of officers on duty across the country.

“Police officers operate in extremely challenging conditions, often risking their lives to protect citizens and maintain public safety. It is important that public behavior and media coverage do not dampen the enthusiasm of officers who are committed to doing the right thing,” he said.

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Disu also voiced concern over the circulation of outdated, altered or misleading video clips presented as current events, and warned that such content could cause unnecessary panic and change the public’s perception of the security situation.

“We urge the public and social media users not to recycle old or manipulated videos that could cause panic or disrupt national security efforts. Such actions endanger the country’s image and stability,” he said.

The IGP observed that policing in Nigeria is now increasingly demanding, with officers often working long hours under intense operational pressure in various regions of the country.

Despite the challenges, he reiterated the Army’s determination to uphold professionalism and hold erring personnel accountable whenever violations occur.

According to him, disciplinary action against officers who violate regulations will continue to be taken, but law-abiding personnel must also be protected from misinformation and deliberate harassment.

“We have consistently demonstrated our commitment to ending impunity within the Police, and we will continue to handle complaints against personnel professionally and firmly. At the same time, officers carrying out their duties according to the law must also be protected from harassment and deliberate misinformation,” he added.

Disu further assured Nigerians that the police will continue to strengthen collaboration with media organizations as part of efforts to increase transparency, public trust and effective communication on security-related issues.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Festus Fifen, called for stronger cooperation between journalists and the police, stressing the importance of timely access to accurate information during security emergencies to prevent speculation and the spread of false narratives.