A’Ibom Police Commissioner tasks Journalists on balanced reportage

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Muhammad Azare has advised journalists to adhere strictly to the principle of balance reporting as enshrined in the ethics of their profession.

Azare gave the advice when the leadership of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists –NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia.

He said journalists must always make sincere efforts to reach out to all parties concerned in any report, rather than saying “the source could not be reached for comment,” adding that newsmen were critical stakeholders in crime prevention and management.

CP Azare assured that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command under his leadership will continue to operate an open-door policy to ensure that members of the public can freely share intelligence with the police in the fight against crime and insecurity.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Federated Chapel, Comrade Bassey Ibiatisuho, said the visit was for members of the chapel to familiarise with the Police boss.

He noted that the working relationship between the police command and the media had always been cordial and urged the police commissioner to sustain and enhance the tempo.

Ibiatisuho commended CP Azare for fighting crime to a minimized level in the state and for regularly sharing vital information regarding criminal activities in the state, as well as the successes recorded by the command to journalists in good time through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John.

He assured the collaboration of the Federated Chapel with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command to ensure that security, peace and order is maintained in the state at all times.

Those who accompanied the Chapel Chairman on the visit were the State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria – SWAN, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, NUJ State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Mfon Hanson, State Financial Secretary, Comrade Ini Akpan. Others were Chapel Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ntekim, Assistant Secretary, Comrade Ubong Inyang, Financial Secretary Comrade Idorenyin Victor, Auditor Comrade Idoboise Nkanta and other stakeholders.