DESPITE the age-long distrust of Nigerians for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) several controversial statements have been made by various spokespersons of the institution, which threaten to further widen the gap and breed resentment. This report looks at the Force’s chief image maker.
Many Nigerians began 2024 with anxiety due to the spike in cases of abductions that occurred towards the end of 2023 and in the early weeks of the new year.
Several states were affected by the development, and The ICIR reported that many residents of Bwari, an Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), abandoned their homes and fled to other environments in search of safety.
As of January 19, 2024, 42 reported kidnap cases were traced by The ICIR through media reports, including some incidents that turned fatal.
However, in the wake of heightened abductions and terror attacks, the Federal Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, recently said most kidnap cases in the country are stage-managed.
“Most of the kidnapping cases we read online are not real. They are either staged and faked. We analyse security situations based on empirical facts and figures.
“These are different concepts or crimes that we need to understand, and the psychology of the perpetrators. No sentiment, but realities. Open your mind to discussions and explanations of experts and security operatives for better understanding,” he posted.
Insisting that the security situation in Nigeria is not as bad as citizens believe, Adejobi also said most online videos suggesting abductions are being recycled.
Many Nigerians criticised the statement, and reacting to it, an X user with username Ayoappeal noted: “How can a police force be so dismissive, most of the kidnap cases we read online are fake or staged? The police force is not accountable to Nigerians, just a tool in the hand of a few privileged elites.”
Although there have been cases of staged abductions in Nigeria, Adejobi’s comments attracted criticism, as it was made at a time when families were dealing with anxiety from frequent bandit attacks that have plagued parts of the country for years.
Quoting data by the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), SBM Intelligence reported that by the end of June 2023, over 19,000 Nigerians had been kidnapped in nearly 3,000 separate abductions carried out within a decade.
Adejobi has made other comments in the past that have sparked public criticism in similar fashion.
In January 2024, one of six sisters kidnapped from the FCT was killed by her abductors, sparking outrage from Nigerians. Adejobi had asked the family of the deceased to quietly relate with the police, and while reacting to the comments of an X user who asked that he reach out to the family himself, he suggested that the internet user was weeping louder than the bereaved.
“Don’t cry more than the bereaved. OK,” he posted.
The reply was criticised for being insensitive by many Nigerians, some of whom called for him to vacate the position, including X user Salah Ad-Din II, who stated that the comments of the FPRO have consistently attracted the anger of citizens.
“This kind of brazen insensitivity in such trying times deserves to be sanctioned. At the very least, ACP Muyiwa should cease to be the spox [spokesperson] of NPF. When a spox tactlessly draws the ire of the public consistently. He’s a liability to effective communication and public relations,” Salah Ad-Din II noted.
Adejobi told The ICIR that’s it’s important to note that many of his statement on social media were made as part of a conversation and needs to be looked at in context and not in isolation.
Public Relations Officers (PROs) are usually responsible for communications within an organisation. They also represent their institutions, especially in external issues.
The International Journal of Police Science and Management disclosed that public perception of police spokespersons reflects on the people’s impression of the Force as a whole.
In Nigeria, there has been a longstanding problem of distrust between members of the public and the NPF, often linked to years of extortion and brutality by its officials. In 2020, youths across the country took to the streets in protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit within the force.
Some Nigerians have called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, stating that Adejobi’s comments reflect his stance on issues.
In August 2023, Adejobi again came under fire for his reactions to a viral video that captured a lady sexually harassing a man.
Reacting to a comment drawing his attention to the video, Adejobi suggested that the man being harassed in the video might have enjoyed the act.
“I think the guy too enjoyed it, or has he complained? I have not seen anyone reporting a case of indecent assault on a male, I have only seen that of indecent assault on a female. I think guys enjoy it when ladies touch them or play with them. I am sure this guy will never report.
“But we have indecent assault on male, and indecent assault on female, as we have rape and defilement, and other sex-related offences. We need to know this. If a woman touches you indecently against your consent, please, report it,” he said.
During the general elections held in 2023, Chairman of the Lagos State Parks Management Committee MC Oluomo was captured warning Igbo voters who would not cast their votes for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stay in their houses or face violent attacks.
Oluomo later said the video was a joke, and reacting to the video, Adejobi also dismissed the threats and encouraged Nigerians to do same.
“I saw a video of MC Oluomo with one Mama Chidinma – an Igbo woman debunking that threat, that it’s not true, it’s just a joke he was making with a particular woman. So, let us take it as a joke, like he said,” Adejobi said.
Recently, Adejobi advised Nigerians to avoid confronting cultists unless they are “loaded.” He was responding to a post on X asking how to handle robbery attempts by cultists.
“Anyway, don’t single-handedly fight or tackle a cultist if you are not ‘loaded.’ It’s not too safe. You can report him or form a group to kick against him and his group. But you must be ready to be consistent, firm, and steadfast. You can’t sit on the fence,” Adejobi posted via X on Friday, March 29.
The word “loaded” can be interpreted into different meanings in local Nigerian parlance and usually implies being in possession of something, ranging from money to arms.
Nigerians on social media have also questioned the meaning behind Adejobi’s use of the word “loaded” and his advice to form groups to confront cultists.
FPRO reacts
The ICIR contacted the FPRO over concerns raised by some of his comments on social media.
Stating that his comments are often clear and self-explanatory, he urged social media users to carefully read his posts for better understanding or contact him for clarity.
“Security matters are discussed based on the provisions of the law, not sentiments. For those who are confused about some of these comments on X, they can contact me personally. I will explain to them. Not all issues are discussed in the media or on social media,” he told The ICIR.
Adejobi also noted that the actions and reactions of the NPF are usually in public interest.
“Our actions and reactions are for the interest of all the citizens, and we are committed to protecting everyone.
“Moreover, comments on Twitter X, are to be carefully read and understood. They are in conversations (threads), but certain individuals pick whatever they want and need, for obvious reasons. So you may wish to go through the threads for better understanding and guidance,” he said.
Expert recommends caution
A Public Relations expert Clifford Egbomeade, who spoke with The ICIR on the issue, recommended that spokespersons exercise caution while interacting with people.
“It’s always good to be careful when giving a message to the public, as some of those things can be given different interpretations,” he said.
He also stated that sensitive issues like kidnapping should be carefully referred to.
“I once had a personal case where my friend’s dad got kidnapped, and to date, nobody knows the whereabouts of the dad, whether he was killed or not.
It is really something that is very sensitive, so saying it can be staged, I don’t think it is a good thing at all because you don’t know who the victims are or how they feel,” Egbomeade said.
He advised that more suitable methods be adopted in communications with members of the public to avoid ambiguity, misinterpretation or hurting the sensitivities of others
