By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),, in Ebonyi State and the state police command have agreed to join forces in the fight crimes and criminality in the area.
Newsbits reports that the partnership was sealed during a courtesy visit to Ebonyi State Police Commissioner, Augustina Ogbodo, by members of the chapel in her office at Abakaliki, the state capital.
Acting Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Uchenna Inya said his members were on the visit to the Police Commissioner to strengthen the relationship between the police and journalists in crime prevention and control in the state. He described the Police Commissioner as an experienced officer, adding that she has stabilized the security system in Ebonyi State, within two months of her posting to the state.
He explained that the Correspondents’ Chapel is a body of journalists whose media head offices are not domiciled in the state and who engage in investigative, development and peace journalism in their social responsibility to keep the society informed and educated.
His words: “we want to thank you ma for receiving us despite your tight schedule. We are here to partner with the state police command in the fight against crime and criminality in our dear state through our reportage as watchdog of the society.
We know you as an experienced police officer who has been in the state police command before you were promoted to Commissioner of Police and transferred to Anambra State.”
Continuing, he said, “we are happy that you are with us again in our dear state and we know you will deliver having been in the state and know it’s nooks and crannies. We have seen what you have been able to do, within the two months you were transferred back to our state. We are happy that residents of Ebonyi State can now sleep with their two eyes closed.”
The Acting Chairman further called on the Police Commissioner to checkmate the activities of some of her men who are recalcitrant thereby bringing bad image to the command through their uncivil attitudes against members of the public, including journalists in the state.
Inya recalled a few weeks ago, some officers of the command almost vandalized the vehicle of Mr Celestine Okeh, a staff of The Times Newspapers, on his way to Abakaliki Township Stadium to join a peaceful protest of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in the state.
In a response, the Commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo commended members of the chapel for the visit. She described journalists as worthy partners in the fight against crime and criminality in the state, adding that her office will continue to relate with the chapel in her efforts to secure the state.
“The truth is that journalists are very indispensable in information dissemination, you hold the key to it. The command will continue to partner with the press for crime prevention and control,” she stated.
The Police Commissioner frowned at the attitude of some police officers who bring bad name to the police system, saying that “this is why the Inspector General of Police doesn’t spare them when they are caught with their bad behaviours.”
