AIBJ Seeks Stronger Partnership With Imo Police, Urges Protection of Journalists
By Anselem Anokwute
The Association of Imo State Based Journalists (AIBJ) has called for a stronger partnership with the Imo State Police Command to promote security, responsible journalism and peaceful coexistence in the state.
Chairman of AIBJ, Comrade Kelechi Ugo, made the call on Monday during a courtesy visit by the association to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, in Owerri.
Ugo said the visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the police and journalists in the state, while promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and effective communication on security matters.
He commended the officers and men of the command for their sacrifices and commitment to protecting lives and property, noting that the police and the media have different but complementary roles in society.
According to him, credible and responsible journalism can support security agencies through accurate reporting, public enlightenment, crime-prevention awareness and the promotion of public confidence in security institutions.
The AIBJ chairman appealed to the police command to ensure the safety of journalists covering crime, communal disputes, protests, political activities, emergencies and other events of public interest.
He urged the command to allow media practitioners to perform their legitimate professional duties without intimidation, harassment or unnecessary obstruction.
Ugo, however, assured the police that AIBJ members would continue to uphold the ethics of journalism by verifying information, respecting the law, protecting sensitive security information and avoiding publications capable of escalating tension or jeopardising ongoing security operations.
He also proposed the establishment of a functional communication channel between AIBJ and the Police Command, as well as periodic security briefings, media engagements and sensitisation programmes to enhance journalists’ understanding and reporting of security operations.
Responding, CP Bosso expressed appreciation to the association for the visit, describing the gesture as encouraging and significant to the command.
The Commissioner urged journalists to continue to highlight the contributions of the police to the protection of lives and property in Imo State, stressing the importance of responsible media coverage in building public confidence in security agencies.
Bosso encouraged journalists to remain objective and professional in the discharge of their duties, urging them to shun actions capable of undermining their safety or escalating confrontations.
He particularly advised journalists against engaging in physical confrontations with armed persons or allowing provocation to compromise their safety.
The Commissioner urged media practitioners who encounter threats or security challenges in the course of their duties to promptly report such incidents to the police for appropriate intervention.
He further encouraged members of AIBJ to continue carrying out their legitimate duties in accordance with the ethics, norms and professional standards of journalism.
The Commissioner also commended the media for its role in supporting security efforts and called for continued collaboration between the police and journalists in the interest of peace and development in the state.
In a show of support for the leadership of the command, members of AIBJ passed a vote of confidence in CP Bosso, commending what they described as his commitment to security and effective policing since assuming office.
The association also commended the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, for what it described as his accessibility, cordial relationship with journalists and commitment to carrying the media along in the activities of the command.
The AIBJ chairman stressed that a secure society requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders, adding that a cordial relationship between the police and the media would contribute significantly to the security, peace and development of Imo State.
