The Police Command in Nasarawa State has reinstated its commitment to partner with journalists on crime prevention in the state.
Commissioner of Police in the state, (CP), Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba, gave the pledge while he hosted the leadership of the Nasarawa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the police headquarters in Lafia, the state capital.
The Commissioner said that the contributions of journalists to the development and policing of any society cannot be over-emphasized.
He explained that the media had supported the police under him since his assumption as the Commissioner of Police in the state.
He said the relationship between the force and NUJ in the state has been close and cordial, unlike other states.
“Media practitioners in Nasarawa State have proven to be truly professional in their reportage and always contact them to get clarification before publishing or airing.
“The coverage of police activities in the state has been unprecedented and we need to commend you and appeal that it should be sustained.
“Without the coverage of our activities, the public will not know the efforts we are making in fighting crime and the feat we have achieved,” the CP noted.
Mohammed-Baba further said that when he was posted to the state in November 2022, there was high rate of kidnapping but with the support of the press and the public, the cases have reduced drastically.
“The police in collaboration with other security agencies came up with a strategy and we tackled kidnapping and arrested so many suspects and rescued victims in some parts of the state.
“We arraigned 30 suspected kidnappers in the court on Thursday and we will make sure they are punished accordingly,” he added.
The CP explained that as they are focusing on tackling kidnapping as cases of herder/farmer conflict are resurfacing in some parts of the state.
He added that security operatives have been deployed to communities that were recently attacked in Kokona and Karu Local Government Areas to enforce law and order.
The Police Commissioner said he was arranging to meet with Miyetti Allah and other Fulani leaders in the state over cases of attacks alleged to have been committed by their people in different communities.
He further disclosed that the police have uncovered and arrested several gunrunners in the state.
He explained that four suspects who came from Kankara of Katsina State were arrested with 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition in Nasarawa State.
He added that the police also arrested other suspects who came from Plateau State to buy three AK-47 raffle in Asakyo of Nasarawa State.
“We uncovered a gunrunning syndicate who are operating from Taraba State through Awe and Obi Local Government Areas of Nassarawa State and we are working to arrest the perpetrators” the CP added.
Meanwhile, the NUJ Chairman, Salihu Mohammed-Alkali, who led other officials, said the visit was to congratulate the Commissioner on his posting to the state.
The NUJ Chairman lauded the CP on the feats the police under his leadership were able to achieve in the state and urged him to do more to tackle the cases of attacks in Kokona and Karu as well as other parts of the state.
He, therefore promised that journalists in the state would continue to be responsible and professional while carrying out their duties of informing and educating the public.
