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In a bid to form strong synergy, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, has promised journalists in Abia State of the support, cooperation and enhanced partnership of the police in the discharge of their duties.
Uzuegbu who made the promise when he received in audience the new leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council led by its Chairman, Deacon Steve Oko in his office in Umuahia, described the press as partners in progress with the police in the fight against crimes and criminalities.
He enjoined journalists and other media practitioners in the zone to assist the police to overcome the challenges of insecurity and assured that no part of the states under the Zone would be allowed to be used as a breeding ground for criminals.
Uzuegbu stated that officers and men of the Zone, in synergy with other sister security agencies, would continue to ensure that the security of lives and properties of residents are secured, describing journalists as critical stakeholders in society, the police boss tasked them to ensure that they practice their profession based on its ethics.
He pointed out that their emphasis should always be on building and development of the society, saying, “Use your noble and well cherished profession to engender peace and unity in the society for the good of all”, the AIG Zone 9 advised, even as he used the forum to task journalists and other media practitioners to always be objective in their reportage and avoid fake news.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel , Deacon Steve Oko, explained the purpose of the visit, describing it as a forum to familiarise with the police hierarchy in the Zone and a way of seeking more harmonious relationship between the media and the police.
Speaking on the need for an enhanced collaboration between the two institutions, Oko urged the Nigeria Police to always see journalists and the other media practitioners in the Zone as partners in progress and not antagonists.
He added that as watchdog of the society, “media practitioners have both moral and constitutional responsibility to hold leaders accountable to the people”, and therefore commended the police for their sacrifices in ensuring the security of lives and properties in the zone.
Oko urged the police authorities to check the excessive and unprofessional conduct of some of its officers and men especially those at checkpoints as well as those conducting patrols in the zone, maintaining that a well disciplined police force is always an asset to the society.
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