Comparisons with predecessor unfair, reporters twist my responses – Kwara police spokesperson

Ilorin, Kwara State – June 7, 2025 — The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Ejire Toun, has appealed to journalists for patience and understanding, saying frequent comparisons with her long-serving predecessor and the misrepresentation of her statements are hampering her work.

In a message shared on a WhatsApp forum for local reporters, SP Toun acknowledged recent complaints that the command is slow to respond to media inquiries, particularly during emergencies such as kidnappings.

She explained that protocol requires her to receive clearance from the Commissioner of Police (CP) before issuing official statements and that delays can occur when divisional police officers (DPOs) in remote areas are unreachable.

“If I am not equipped with enough details of what transpired, which of course has to be accurate … how do I communicate with you?” she asked, stressing that the risk of inaccurate information being “misrepresented by some reporters” makes caution essential.

SP Toun also addressed criticisms that she falls short of the standard set by former command spokesperson SP Okasanmi Ajayi, who served 17 commissioners.

Describing the comparison as “unfair,” she wrote, “You think it’s a day’s job? … Rome was not built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race.”

While conceding she is “growing and progressing with no prior tutoring,” Toun thanked senior journalists who have offered guidance and described public relations work as “another world on its own.”

She credited her “never-giving-up spirit” and the support of her PR team for “milestones recorded so far.”

The message comes after several Kwara-based journalists complained publicly that phone calls to the command’s media unit often go unanswered and that press statements sometimes contain factual errors, including a recent misspelling of a community’s name.

Media practitioners in the state have repeatedly called for quicker, clearer briefings on security developments.

Toun assured reporters that she remains committed to transparency and open communication but urged them to “exercise patience” when events are still unfolding.

“Special thanks to God Almighty… and to my mummies and daddies, big brothers and big sisters,” she concluded, promising continued improvement in the command’s public engagement.

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