Kano Police Move to Curb Hate Speech, Fake News
By the Newsroom
KANO – The Kano State Police Command has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of hate speech and fake news with the announcement of a one-day sensitization workshop aimed at promoting responsible communication and peaceful coexistence across the state.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, dated February 2, 2026.
The initiative is being implemented under the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in partnership with the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS) and the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMGF), in line with the community-based policing directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
According to the police, the workshop will hold on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Aminu Dantata Auditorium, Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University of Nigeria (KHAIRUN), Gadon Kaya, Kano.
The programme is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including political actors, journalists, social media influencers, online media editors, and police officers, to deliberate on strategies for addressing the growing menace of hate speech and the deliberate spread of false information.
The Kano State Police Command said the move was necessitated by a recent rise in inflammatory speeches, inciting comments, and misleading statements capable of disrupting public peace, particularly when amplified through traditional and digital media platforms.
Experts drawn from the media industry, the legal profession, and the police will serve as resource persons, providing insights on ethical communication, legal implications, and security concerns associated with hate speech and fake news.
Commenting on the initiative, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, urged all invited stakeholders to actively participate and support efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the state.
Bakori also appealed to members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and hate-filled content, and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.