BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
The indefatigable crime fighter of Police in Bayelsa State, Mr Paul Okafor, recently solicited the support of journalists in fighting crime in the state to its lowest level.
Okafor made the call at a one-day workshop jointly organised by the Bayelsa Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the state police command in Yenagoa at the prestigious NUJ press center
He said journalists and policemen perform similar duties for the wellbeing of the society and face similar risks in the discharge of their duties and there should be ultimate collaboration. The police chief said that in view of the similar roles of the two in society, there was no reason for mutual suspicion. Okafor urged journalists to work with the police to rid the state of crime.
In his remarks, Chief Boma Jack, Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Security, said journalism and law enforcement were related as both need each other to authenticate reports while urging journalists to be investigative.
He urged the police and journalists to engage in confidence building to ensure that they develop mutual trust needed for optimal performance.
In his presentation, Mr Fidelis Agbiki, a journalist and lawyer, traced the constitutional roles assigned to the media and the police and concluded that they faced similar challenges often overlooked by the society in assessing them.
According to him, the constitution assigns the press the watchdog role while the police were assigned with the role of watch dog. He said that both roles were envisioned to complement each other.
Agbiki, therefore, urged the two establishments to understand one another’s role and cooperate to avoid friction.
He said that the positive contributions of each organisation were often ignored while the negative aspects of their performance were blown out of proportion.
According to him, the incidents of police brutality against the media were rampant in the past and had been on the decline in the present democratic dispensation.
Agbiki said police and media synergy was mutually beneficial to both parties and the larger society, calling for social and recreational interaction to create a bond of friendship. The workshop had as theme: “Strengthening Synergy between Media and Police toward a Crime-free Society.’’
Several Participants at the workshop were drawn from the police, media organisations, other security agencies and Civil Society Organizations. Infact it was a unique workshop as it was so interacting in cementing cordial working relationship.
