The Abia State commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie has commended the activeness of members of the Abia state chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN.
This is even as OMPAN has assured to support the police in its fight against crime in the state.
CP Kenechukwu gave the commendation on Monday during a courtesy visit by some members of OMPAN at the Abia State Police Command Headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.
While commending OMPAN members for the visit, CP Kenechukwu also advised that they should use the advantage of their medium to promote factual reportage, professionalism and to also stand firm as the watchdog of the society, adding that “it will be to the advantage OMPAN members, especially in the use of the online media which is now referred to as new media”.
“It is for your own advantage because you are the ones who truly speak for the people.
“In many cases, news coming from your platforms actually makes a wider audience. The mainstream media has also recognized the importance of this, some of them now have segments dedicated to online media, so nobody can play down on your importance.” CP Kenechukwu said.
CP Kenechukwu who stated the readiness of the command to partner OMPAN on information gathering, dissemination and policing of Abia State in order to keep Abia more safer for the citizens said “You are not taking your job likely and I like it, we need to be up on our toes.
“I’m also happy that you know that we need to be partners. Let’s also know that the bottom line is the benefit of the people. I assure you of our support and continued collaboration.” CP Kenechukwu said.
OMPAN Chairman , Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro in his speech said OMPAN members were in his office to seek synergy with the command and to show support in the command’s effort in its fight against fake news, crime and criminality in the state.
He also appreciated the leadership nature of the CP, which he noted to have help to ensure the relative peace in the state, stating that OMPAN is happy to be part of his career success story.
“You cannot joke with the online media because there’s no editorial bottlenecks. We want to tell you that we are happy with the way you are administering the Police Command in Abia state and we want to be partners in progress, we want to help you fight fake news. We will continue to support the police.” Promise said.
Promise also who assured the CP of the credibility and professionalism of OMPAN members, especially with the revalidation exercise carried out recently by his administration for improved data banking of OMPAN members, said that members under his watch would promote objectivity in their reportage of the command and the state in general.
The OMPAN chairman also commended the media friendly nature of CP Kenechukwu and applauded gallantry of the command’s operatives who tracked amd arrested kidnap suspects of Professor Godwin Emezie, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Abia State University in February and the arrest of a student who killed a student in Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).
He further commended the peaceful intervention and resolution on the issue of the invasion of the office of an OMPAN member; Ifeanyi Okali (ABN office) in Umuahia by some policemen in January during a live program while enforcing an arrest on a reported case.
In the same vain, the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Rivers State chapter has partnered with the state Police Command to create a healthy environment with its objective reportage.
OMPAN expressed this at a media chat with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, at the Command’s Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.
Speaking, a national officer of the association, Comr. Juachi Ochu said OMPAN has the obligation to feed members with current and accurate reports of events as they occur in the society.
He said: “We are not a stooge to anybody or politician in the state and outside the state; neither are we an attack dog to any person or government.
We maintain our neutrality in our reportage.
“Sir, since your deployment to Rivers State, we have known, we have seen and witnessed the rate at which crime has reduced drastically in the state.
“And we know that it is not because the state decides to be like that, we know those behind the success; it is through your hard work. We need to give you commendation for this sacrifice.”
He added: “We know how you have been tackling fake news, false news and propaganda in the state. We are here to assure and tell you no member of OMPAN is a fake news carrier. We verify our reports and think of their impacts on the society.
“We want to thank you as we form a synergy, partnership with the Rivers State Police Command.”
Speaking too, state chairman of OPMAN, Chidiebele Okoye, noted CP Olatunji Disu, as a highly professional officer and has remained apolitical in the discharge of his functions in Rivers State.
He said: “OMPAN can categorically say that nobody would say whether the CP is siding this particular party or the other.
People see CP as someone who is focused in fighting crime.
“In the last five months, we all know what has happened in this state. All the wanted criminals, who were difficult to get have been gunned down. So, we must commend you for that. And that is why we came because we want partnership with the command.”
Responding, CP Disu lauded OMPAN for their relevance in society, stressing that policing is the responsibility of every citizen and charged members to exhibit professionalism in their resportage.
He said:”Just one news from you have to do with our mental health as security officers; and it has to do with our well-being as well, the moral of officers.
“We need a lot of encouragement. Yes, once in a while, we have one or two wrong things about us, highlight it. That is why we gave out numbers for you to be able to call and tell us if our men are doing things they are not supposed to do. We will work on it.
“At the same time, we are having sleepless nights, we are sacrificing a lot as police officers. And we are achieving a lot; and we are paying with our lives. Also, talk about our achievements as well. That will encourage us to do more.
“Ensure you do responsible journalism, verify your stories before throwing it out. Social media is a new world, a new influence. As I mentioned earlier, crime-fighting is the responsibility of everybody.”
