Journalists in Ebonyi State, under the umbrella of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), have partnered with Police to fight crimes and criminality in the state.
The Acting Chairman of the chapel, Mr. Uchenna Inya said members of the chapel paid the courtesy visit to the state Commissioner, Augustina Ogbodo, to strengthen relationship between the police and journalists in crime prevention and control.
He described the Police Commissioner as an experienced police officer who has stabilized the security system in the state through her proactiveness and resilience in the fight against criminality within two months of assuming duty in the state.
She was posted to Ebonyi State as the Commissioner from Anambra State, where she was promoted to Commissioner of Police after serving as Assistant Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State Police command.
The Acting Chairman commended her good work in securing the society and urged her not to relent as according to him, “there will be lawlessness without security agents especially the police” which he said have been at the forefront in the fight against crime in the society.
He noted that Correspondents Chapel are 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.
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“We want to thank you 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.
“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 been able to do within the two months you were transferred back to our state by stabilizing the state security system and we are happy that residents of Ebonyi State can now sleep with their two eyes closed”, he told the CP.
Inya used the occasion to call 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.
He reported a case in which some policemen almost vandalized the vehicle of a journalist in the state, Celestine Okeh, of the Times Newspapers when he was driving into Abakaliki Township Stadium to join the State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) peaceful protest few weeks ago over federal government petroleum subsidy policy which has brought untold hardship to Nigerians.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo commended members of the chapel for the visit and described them as very important in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.
She assured that she 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,” Ogbodo added.
She expressed dismay on attitude of some policemen who she described as recalcitrant who have been bringing 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 behaviors.
