Mr. Abiodun Alabi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Federal Criminal Investigative Department (FCID) at Force Headquarters in Abuja, has called on journalists across the country to refrain from publishing sensational and unverified news that could worsen the current insecurity situation in Nigeria.

Alabi, who also serves as the Coordinating DIG for the South West Geopolitical Zone, made this appeal on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, while delivering a lecture during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council's 2024 Annual Press Week public lecture.

In his address on the topic "The Role of Media in Promoting National Peace and Security," the police chief emphasized the media's vital role in prioritizing news that fosters national peace, unity, and security.

The senior police officer also emphasized the importance of implementing programs and initiatives to prevent terrorists from financing their operations, including providing technical assistance to bolster the capabilities of allies.

In his remarks, he stated, “There should be responsible reportage that emphasizes accuracy and balance. It must be unbiased to avoid escalating tensions. Journalists should steer clear of sensationalism and derogatory, emotive language that could trigger security lapses.”

He further urged, “Stop giving oxygen to insurgents; stop promoting them unnecessarily. By doing so, you are aiding their efforts to disrupt the peace of the nation. We need a more proactive approach to protecting Nigeria's cyberspace and electronic infrastructure from hacking and criminal interference. Additionally, we should establish programs to prevent terrorists from financing their operations, including technical assistance to build the capacity of our allies.”

In a goodwill message, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji commended the Ekiti State Council of the NUJ for a successful Press Week. Represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, he praised journalists in the state for their fair coverage of government activities and pledged further collaboration to achieve his shared prosperity agenda.

NUJ Vice President for the B-Zone, Mrs. Ronke Samo, also urged the government and security agencies to function effectively while advocating for a free flow of information without interference.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, praised the DIG for his insightful lecture and assured that national peace and security would be prioritized across various media platforms.

Similarly, in his royal message at the event, the Olufaki of Ifaki-Ekiti, Oba Adegbenro Falore, encouraged members of society not to be deterred from providing valuable information to security operatives. He highlighted that security is a joint effort between the public and security personnel and urged journalists to continue cooperating with security agencies to address the security challenges facing some regions of the country.