The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, declared on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy all legal and technical measures to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals or groups spreading fake news, fabricated videos, and misleading digital content ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja at the annual conference and awards organized by the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN), IGP Disu warned that synthetic media, AI-generated deepfakes, and unverified security reports have the potential to trigger public panic, incite political violence, and compromise national electoral integrity.
To counter these emerging digital threats, the police chief announced that the NPF National Cybercrime Centre and State Criminal Investigation Departments nationwide have been mandated to track online platforms using advanced digital forensics. He noted that recent investigative operations have already led to the identification and arrest of several suspects linked to fabricated official notices and manipulated videos aimed at deceiving the public.
Addressing concerns regarding civil liberties, Disu reassured citizens that enforcement under the Cybercrime Act will focus strictly on threats to public safety and will not be used to stifle constructive dissent or curtail legitimate press freedom. He emphasized that the media remains a vital stakeholder in preserving democratic stability.
As part of measures to safeguard information integrity, the Police Force is partnering with CCAN leadership and civil society verification groups, including FactMatterNG, to establish a dedicated verification channel for accredited journalists. This mechanism aims to ensure rapid authentication of security incidents before publication, preventing the spread of unverified rumors during the election cycle.
Concluding his address, IGP Disu urged media editors and digital publishers to maintain strict editorial standards, urging them to verify security-related claims with command authorities prior to broadcast to ensure public confidence in democratic institutions remains intact heading into 2027.
