Police Deploy Cyber Monitoring, Digital Forensics Against Fake News – IGP Disu
The Nigeria Police Force says it is strengthening its cyber monitoring and digital forensic capabilities to identify and tackle individuals responsible for fabricating security reports, manipulating videos and spreading misleading information capable of threatening public safety.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the annual conference of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja, warning that the growing use of digital platforms and artificial intelligence had made it easier to manufacture false security incidents and trigger public panic.
He said the police were deploying a National Cybersecurity Monitoring Platform and working through relevant investigative departments to monitor misleading online content and investigate deliberate fabrications.
According to him, digital forensic investigations have already helped the police identify and arrest individuals linked to fabricated notices and videos.
Disu, however, stressed that enforcement measures would be applied cautiously and only where public safety was genuinely threatened.
“Let me be clear. We apply these powers sparingly and only where public safety is genuinely at risk, not to silence criticism or dissent,” he said.
The IGP illustrated the danger of misleading visual content with an incident involving a police officer in Niger State.
He recalled that a journalist had brought a photograph of an officer carrying a white keg near an alcohol seller to a meeting with police authorities.
Although the image could have been interpreted as evidence of suspicious activity, further investigation established that the keg contained water.
Disu said the incident demonstrated why journalists and security agencies must establish the context behind photographs and videos before drawing conclusions.
The police chief said the distinction between legitimate criticism and deliberate manipulation of facts was important, adding that journalists should not be discouraged from investigating misconduct.
He also warned about deepfakes, describing them as videos, audio recordings or images created or altered with artificial intelligence to make people appear to say or do things they never did.
According to him, such technology poses a growing threat to public trust, particularly during sensitive periods such as elections.
Disu said the police would also respond more quickly to viral false claims by providing evidence-based clarifications rather than allowing misinformation to spread unchecked.
He maintained that the measures were designed to protect public safety and preserve confidence in institutions, not to undermine responsible journalism.
The IGP urged media professionals to verify digital content, establish its origin and context, and exercise caution before publishing sensational security-related claims.
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