BENIN CITY-The Commissioner of Police deployed to Edo State recently CP Johnson Babatudun Kokumo has solicited the collaboration of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, Edo State Council in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.
CP Kokumo said the partnership of journalists was key to modern policing which he noted is information driven.
The police commissioner stated this when he visited journalists at the state NUJ secretariat, Reservation Road, GRA, Benin City, yesterday.
He stated the police would not be able to do it alone hence the call for the collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
CP Kokumo maintained that under his watch unrepentant criminals and police officers would be chased out of the state or be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stated that the police command under his watch would not condole acts of corruption and human rights abuses maintaining that bail is free and would remain free under his watch.
“Bail is free and it will remain free under my leadership as the commissioner of police in Edo State”. He stated.
“I am here to work, to work hard, to serve with diligence the good people of Edo State.
“In doing this, we are going to fight crime and criminals with all the arsenals available to us.
“We want to say in clear terms that we are going to partner with sister security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, markect women, community leaders, civil society organizations professional bodies like NUJ, NBA,MBA, NUT and others”. He noted.
CP Kokumo however explained that the command would enlist the support of stakeholders because of the relevance of information in crime prevention, control and bursting.
“I want to put this across to you, in some instances, vital, relevant information, just one is much more better to a policeman than one thousand and one AK47 riffles”. CP Kokumo stated.
Responding, the Chairman, NUJ, Edo State Council Sir Roland Osakue assured the visiting CP of desired partnership as information dissemination is part of the statutory duties of journalists.
He advised the CP to always convene security stakeholders meeting as it is a way of getting feedback from members of the public who may not have direct access to the police.
