Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abuja Chapter, Comrade Chuks Ehirim has urged that media to engender a deepened civil interface between members of the public and the police for enhanced security.
Ehirim said this at the award ceremony of the National Peace and Crime Free Nigeria Foundation (NPCFNF), where three FCT Police divisions were honoured for their response to distress calls and management of cases within their area.
The award for the police formations and some senior security officials took place at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abuja council secretariat.
The NUJ chairman said the relationship between members of the public and the police is characterised with mutual suspicion and therefore called for more confidence between members of the public and the police for better management of security matters.
Speaking through the Council Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche who represented him at the ceremony, the NUJ chairman said the threat presently affecting the peace of the nation particularly in northern part needs the cooperation of all.
According to him, the media is saddled with the responsibility of building a harmonious relationship between the Police and the public as it relates to journalists.
He emphasised that the reports and commentaries written by the media go a long way to decide the political and socio-economic atmosphere of the nation at any given time.
His words: “Fundamentally for embarking on a programme that will bring about synergy between the civilian populace and the police, a relationship that has been one of mutual suspicion, I think the time has come for us to bridge the gap and work together especially as we are faced with serious threat to our corporate existence by fundamentalists, militants and by whatever name they go by.
“The media equally has a critical role to play in streamlining the relationships that exists between the the various segment of society as it stands with security forces and the population at large, because the reports we make and commentaries that we write go a long way in determining the sort of relationships that will exist in this country. I think the media has fared well in interrogating processes of whether the policemen are being paid well or doing their jobs properly or not.
“”I think much interaction will help in bridging this gap and in enhancing and sustaining that relationship.”
Chairman of the occasion, Mr. James Odaudu, Assistant Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ministry of Police Affairs, said the police work under various degree of pressure.
He said the men and women of the force deserve the understanding and commendation of the public especially award such as the one bestowed on some divisions in the FCT because their performance in relation to their limitations He said civilians, corporate bodies and the media should think more of a synergy that would engender development for the country.
Three police divisions (Utako, Life camp and Gwagwa) were honoured for their prompt response to distress calls and quick disposal of cases within their jurisdiction.
According to the founder of the National Peace and Crime Free Nigeria Foundation, Elder Chris DNK, Richards and winner of the M.D. Abubakar Crime reporter of the year, the occasion was to recognise the worth of an institution that is greatly misunderstood.
Richards said the Nigeria Police is faced with myriads of challenges and yet to maintain relative peace within it’s defined civil population but the activities of some unscrupulous members has continued to “dim her noble efforts which called for this award.”
He said Nigerians should learn to appreciate the role of the policeman and the institution he represents and help them to continue to call on the government to improve on their welfare and operations needs for effective policing of the country.
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