Journalists in Nigeria’s Kogi State on Wednesday commended the state’s police commissioner for protecting reporters and building closer ties between the police and the media. The commissioner, in turn, credited the press with improving the force’s public image.
Members of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council, made the remarks during a courtesy visit to Commissioner of Police Naziru Bello Kankarofi at his office in Lokoja, the state capital.
Olatunde Odimayo, the chapel’s assistant secretary, said the state police command had consistently shown respect for journalists and their work. Reporters, he said, had been able to operate in a relatively peaceful environment, free from intimidation and with adequate protection from criminal threats.
Odimayo urged the chapel and the police to strengthen their collaboration and promote effective policing for the benefit of residents. He pledged the chapel’s continued support for the police so that officers remain committed to safeguarding lives and property.
He also rejected the perception in some quarters that the chapel is made up mainly of online journalists, saying its members include television and print professionals. He described them as “the movers and shakers” of grassroots reportage in the state.
Kankarofi thanked journalists for what he called accurate, balanced and objective coverage of the command’s activities. He said such coverage had improved the command’s public image and earned it greater recognition at the Force Headquarters.
“We are not angels, and sometimes we make mistakes due to pressure, among other factors. However, you have always helped us manage such situations and drawn attention to areas requiring corrections,” he said.
The commissioner said he was impressed by the turnout of journalists on his first day in the state, particularly at his inaugural address. He said it gave him the impression he would be working with a friendly press corps.
Kankarofi, the 40th police commissioner of Kogi State since its creation on Aug. 27, 1991, is due to mark his first anniversary in office on Oct. 30. He described his tenure so far as “so far, so good,” though he acknowledged challenges, including security difficulties the state has faced at different times.
He said sustained cooperation between the police and the media remained essential to strengthening public confidence in the police and improving security across Kogi.
