By Francis Sadhere, Warri
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, has expressed concern over rising insecurity, cult-related killings, police extortion, and the abuse of social media by political actors, calling for urgent actions to address the challenges.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the chapel’s monthly congress held on Wednesday at the NUJ Secretariat in Warri, Delta State.
Congress particularly condemned the worsening insecurity in the country, citing the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools, including a nursery school, in Oyo State by suspected terrorists.
The journalists expressed sadness over the reported beheading of a male teacher attached to one of the affected schools and called on security agencies to intensify efforts towards rescuing the abducted children and other kidnapping victims nationwide.
The congress also decried the recent cult-related killings in the Cemetery and Iyara areas of Warri, where two persons were reportedly stabbed to death by rival cult groups.
It urged security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute those behind the attacks, while calling on the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Isaac Agbateyiniro, to take proactive steps to tackle cultism and restore peace in the area.
Parents and guardians were also advised to discourage their children and wards from engaging in cultism and criminal activities.
On the traffic situation around Enerhen Junction, congress commended Sheriff Oborevwori for the construction of flyovers at PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout, and Enerhen Junction aimed at easing movement within Warri and Effurun.
However, the union expressed concern that commercial tricycle operators and roadside traders had turned the Enerhen Junction axis into a major traffic and environmental nuisance through indiscriminate parking and trading activities.
Congress therefore called on the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, Anthony Ofoni, to urgently clear the area to restore free flow of traffic.
The journalists also condemned alleged extortion and harassment of motorists by some police operatives along major roads in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, and neighbouring communities.
Congress alleged that some officers extort commercial drivers and riders, demanding payments from them while delaying those who refuse to comply.
The union consequently appealed to Olatunji Disu to address the issue in order to protect the image of the Nigeria Police Force, while also urging the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, to caution officers against extortion and intimidation of citizens.
Congress further raised concerns over what it described as the increasing misuse of social media by some political actors and government aides through inflammatory statements capable of causing tension in the polity.
It advised political stakeholders to embrace responsible communication and issue-based engagements in the interest of peace, unity, and democratic stability.
The communiqué reaffirmed the commitment of the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel to responsible journalism, good governance, peace, and the protection of citizens’ rights and welfare.
