Eket Police, Media Forge Fresh Partnership, Tackle Motorcycle Enforcement Concerns

Eket Police, Media Forge Fresh Partnership, Tackle Motorcycle Enforcement Concerns

…as Area Commander, ACP Ahiwa Ribadu, assures journalists of professional policing, better information flow and stronger collaboration

Members of the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals on Friday, August 28, 2026, paid a familiarity visit to the Eket Area Commander, ACP Ahiwa A. Ribadu, at his office in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, seeking stronger collaboration between the police and the media in promoting peace and security.

The media team, led by the forum Chairman, Comrade Enobong Nsimah, said the visit was aimed at re-establishing a cordial working relationship with the police for the benefit of the people.

Nsimah, while thanking the Area Commander for receiving the team, raised concerns over alleged harassment of citizens, particularly motorcycle riders, during enforcement of the 6pm restriction in Eket.

He urged the police to ensure that enforcement is carried out professionally and without unnecessary harassment.

The chairman also appealed to the Area Commander to establish an effective channel for timely dissemination of police information to the public and media, warning that failure to provide accurate information promptly could create room for misinformation and disinformation.

He assured the police of the media’s readiness to sensitize the public on responsible social media usage and proper conduct when dealing with security personnel, stressing that mutual protection and respect should remain central to the new partnership.

Responding, ACP Ribadu expressed delight over the visit, describing the media as a critical stakeholder in building a safe society. He said he would have reached out to the forum earlier if he had known of its existence as a professional body.

On the motorcycle restriction, the Area Commander said the Eket Local Government authorities should provide the police with a written copy of the law backing the 6pm restriction to enable officers to enforce it appropriately and within the law.

He assured that officers under his command would be encouraged to enforce the law professionally and without harassing members of the public, while promising to continue sensitizing his men to exercise restraint and act humanely.

ACP Ribadu also advised members of the public to maintain proper conduct when dealing with the police, saying mutual respect would help prevent unnecessary confrontations.

He urged media practitioners, especially members of the public to always think carefully before publishing or engaging with information on social media and appealed to journalists to send him videos of cattle and herders found on public roads for onward transmission to the appropriate state anti-grazing team.

The Area Commander, while acknowledging that both police officers and members of the public have shortcomings, pledged to continue working with the media and protecting journalists and members of the community.

The high point of the engagement was the presentation of the official letter of invitation for a friendly football tournament between media professionals from the Eket Federal Constituency and officers of the Eket Area Command to the Area Commander.

In his acceptance of the letter, ACP Ribadu expressed his willingness to participate in the tournament, promising to mobilize officers under his command for the event and also take part in the football match.

According to the chairman, details of the football tournament, including the date and other arrangements, would be announced in due course.