Shun reports capable of fuelling election violence, Oyo CP tells journalists
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Abimbola Olugbenga, has urged journalists to exercise professionalism, restraint and accuracy when reporting election-related incidents, warning that sensational and unverified reports could heighten tensions and trigger violence.
The CP gave the warning while delivering a lecture titled, “Covering Election Violence Responsibly: Best Practices for Reporting Incidents Without Escalating Tensions,” at a Tribune Discourse organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Tribune Chapel.
He said elections often generate intense political competition, heightened emotions and misinformation, making responsible journalism essential to maintaining peace. According to him, journalists should see themselves not only as reporters but also as partners in promoting understanding and stability during periods of electoral tension.
The commissioner stressed the importance of verifying information before publication, particularly reports of violence, casualties, arrests, security operations and alleged misconduct. He urged journalists not to rely on information merely because it was trending on social media or circulating on WhatsApp, but to confirm such reports through credible and independent sources.
He also cautioned against inflammatory headlines, ethnic or religious labelling and the attribution of individual actions to entire communities or political groups. He urged journalists to distinguish clearly between facts, allegations and opinions, while avoiding speculation about the motives behind incidents until they are established.
On social media, the CP warned that old photographs and videos were often presented as current events, while incidents from other locations were sometimes falsely attributed to particular communities. “A story being widely circulated does not make it true. Trending does not mean verified,” he said.
The commissioner further advised journalists to exercise caution when reporting security operations, warning against publishing sensitive information such as the locations of tactical personnel, operational strategies, movements of security teams and identities of undercover officers. He also reminded reporters that an arrest did not amount to conviction and urged them to refer to arrested persons as suspects until proven guilty by a competent court.
He introduced the STOP-CHECK-REPORT principle, urging journalists to pause before publishing, verify information through credible sources and report confirmed facts accurately and without inflammatory language. “No story is worth a life. No headline is worth a riot. And no political contest is worth the destruction of our communities,” he said.
