Ebonyi state Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba, Monday, charged journalists in the state on investigative reportage, even as he assured of a better synergy between the Command and Journalists to stamp out crimes and criminality in the State.
Mr Garba gave the charge at the Police headquarters Abakaliki, during a courtesy visit by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State.
He noted that the Police and the Journalists in the state needed to work together for effective crime detection and prevention.
He said: “The police and the Journalists, in general, supposed to work together. One, the police with its responsibilities of prevention of and detection of crime, the Journalists should inform the public.
“Information is key in every thing one is doing in his day to day responsibility. And that’s why the police just as the Journalists seek for information. But the information the Police need is credible and reliable information, so as to nip in the bud, crimes and criminality. And with Journalists playing their role of sensitization, believe you me, we will be able to nip to the bud these crimes.
“People must be security conscious, and it is you that will tell the public. So, information is key, but it must be very reliable and credible.
“The Command is ready to cooperate with you. We are not saying that we should not be criticized but let it be very constructive.
“Every Journalist should try to be an investigative Journalist. You must try to compare and contrast and come up with something that will be relatively good and fine. I think if we adopt this method, believe you me, the end will justify the means.”
In his mission statement, the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel in the State, Comrade Nwafor Samson, hinted that their visit was to officially inform the CP of the emergence of a new Chapel executive led by him.
Nwafor commended Commissioner Garba for the ability and commitment he had shown in containing crimes and criminality in the State.
He assured him of the continual cooperation and partnership of the Chapel with the Command.
“We commend you very highly for the exploits the Ebonyi State Police Command has made in crime detection and prevention under your watch. You assumed office when the State was faced with too many security challenges but you have demonstrated capacity and has truly shown that you came prepared”, Nwafor said.