IBADAN, Nigeria, Oyo State Commissioner of Police Ayodeji Olugbemiga Abimbola has urged journalists to partner with the police in strengthening security, stressing that effective policing depends on credible information and responsible reporting. His appeal comes as Nigeria grapples with rising crime and prepares for elections, highlighting the political and social stakes of police media collaboration.
During a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council to the police command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, Abimbola emphasized that journalists play a decisive role in projecting police achievements, correcting misinformation, and bridging the gap between law enforcement and citizens.
“This is not just about crime prevention,” Abimbola said. “It is about building confidence. When the public sees accurate reporting of our efforts, they are more willing to cooperate. Without the media, our work is half done.”
The commissioner, who once worked as a cub reporter with Radio Kwara, noted that misinformation has become widespread and can only be countered through professional journalism. He also disclosed that Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu has established a new unit to strengthen operations nationwide, with trained officers set to be inaugurated in Oyo on May 16.
NUJ Chairman Akeem Abas commended the police for maintaining relative peace in Oyo, attributing it to crime prevention and arrests. He stressed that journalists, as agenda setters, must collaborate with security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Security analysts welcomed the outreach. “The police cannot succeed without the media,” said Dr. Funmi Adeyemi, a policy expert in Abuja. “Journalists amplify successes, expose failures, and shape public perception. In a democracy, that balance is vital.”
Yet critics warn that media partnerships risk becoming propaganda tools if not managed carefully. “The danger is that the police may seek favorable coverage rather than genuine accountability,” argued sociologist Kwame Mensah of the University of Ghana. Others caution that focusing on media relations could distract from deeper reforms, such as tackling corruption within the force or improving response times to distress calls.
The commissioner’s appeal also ties into broader national reforms. Inspector General Disu recently called for stronger international support to modernize Nigeria’s police, emphasizing intelligenceled operations, respect for human rights, and community partnerships.
Globally, the relationship between police and media is fraught but essential. In democracies from the United States to South Africa, press freedom and police transparency often collide, yet collaboration has proven crucial in crisis communication and countering disinformation. Nigeria’s experiment in Oyo reflects a wider recognition that information warfare is as critical as boots on the ground.
As Oyo prepares for elections and grapples with insecurity, CP Abimbola’s outreach to journalists is both pragmatic and politically sophisticated. It acknowledges that policing today is not just about patrols and arrests, but about narratives, trust, and legitimacy.
In a state where the battle against crime is also a battle for public confidence, the commissioner’s message is clear: without the media, the police cannot win.
