By Ogbeni Olawale Dawodu
ABUJA — Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Ridwan Disu, on Saturday paid a surprise visit to the Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abuja, urging closer collaboration between the police and the media to strengthen national security and public trust.
The unexpected visit took place at the NUJ FCT Secretariat on Ekuikinam Street in Utako, weeks after Disu was confirmed and decorated as the country’s top police officer.
The police chief arrived quietly in a Toyota Camry with Lagos registration number CN 698KST, accompanied by a police patrol jeep, catching journalists at the press centre off guard.
Despite the surprise appearance, Disu is familiar with the NUJ premises. During his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, he visited the council several times and maintained cordial relations with journalists. One of his notable engagements with reporters was a Ramadan fast-breaking gathering with members of the press in the territory last year.
Shortly after the union’s March monthly congress, the IGP was ushered into the hall alongside the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and the Force Media Officer, Ali Giwa.
Addressing the gathering, Disu commended journalists in the FCT for their role in informing the public and supporting national development.
“I have always had a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with journalists,” the IGP said. “They are professionals who deserve respect and should never be treated as beggars.”
He emphasized that stronger cooperation between the police and the media would help improve public confidence and enhance communication on security matters.
“A stronger partnership between the police and the media will build public trust and improve how security information reaches Nigerians,” he added.
Disu also urged both police officers and journalists to uphold professionalism in their conduct, stressing that responsible behaviour leaves a lasting impression on society.
Responding, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, congratulated the IGP on his appointment and described him as a long-standing friend of the media.
“We are confident in your leadership and assure you that the council will continue to work with the police in reporting security matters objectively,” Ike said.
She also disclosed that the police chief would be invited as a special guest at the council’s 2026 Press Week celebration. Ike reaffirmed the council’s commitment to promoting responsible journalism and supporting initiatives that strengthen security and governance in the FCT.
Both the Force Public Relations Officer, Placid, and the Force Media Officer, Giwa, assured journalists of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to maintaining open communication and deepening its working relationship with the media.
The visit highlighted ongoing efforts to reinforce cooperation between law enforcement and the press in Nigeria’s capital.
