The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has urged journalists to uphold accuracy, professionalism and investigative journalism in the discharge of their duties.

Pastor Adeboye gave the admonition during his sermon at the first Sunday and thanksgiving service for November, where he addressed what he described as a misleading report concerning a prayer walk he participated in against insecurity in 2020.

The cleric clarified that the placard he carried during the exercise was part of a prayer walk organised to seek divine intervention against insecurity and killings across the country, contrary to reports suggesting that he was protesting against the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He expressed concern that some journalists had misrepresented the incident by associating it with Jonathan’s administration, without verifying the actual date and circumstances surrounding the exercise.

Pastor Adeboye explained that the prayer walk took place in 2020, five years after Jonathan left office in 2015, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He further explained that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had encouraged churches across the country to organise prayer walks around their respective locations as part of efforts to seek God’s intervention in the nation’s security challenges.

The RCCG General Overseer criticised the tendency of some media practitioners to publish unverified information, noting that inaccurate reports could mislead the public and damage the reputation of individuals.

He therefore charged journalists to go beyond sensational headlines by conducting proper investigations, cross-checking facts and establishing the authenticity of information before publication.

Pastor Adeboye stressed the importance of responsible journalism, urging media practitioners to uphold truth, fairness and professional ethics in reporting issues of public interest.