Insecurity: NSCDC Commandant calls for stronger media partnership

The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sokoto State Command, Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi, has called for stronger collaboration between security agencies and the media to tackle banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities.

Ajayi made the call on Tuesday when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, paid a courtesy visit to the command.

He described journalists as critical partners in security operations, saying the media had an important role to play in informing the public about the efforts and sacrifices of security personnel.

The commandant said regular engagement and effective communication between security agencies and journalists were necessary to promote accurate reporting and improve public understanding of security operations.

“I know you are a friend of this command and a friend of security. I know what you mean to us and how dear you are to me in particular since I came on board,” Ajayi said.

He commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for their reports on the command and assured them of his readiness to provide access to relevant information.

“My door is widely open to you. You don’t need to knock before entering this office. You don’t need to knock for any security coverage or anything that you want from us,” he said.

Ajayi directed officers of the command to provide their contact details to journalists to facilitate quick communication, especially during emergencies and other security-related developments.

He said the relationship between the command and the media should go beyond coverage of security operations to include regular discussions on challenges facing security agencies, including arrests, detention, operational difficulties and the protection of vulnerable communities.

The commandant disclosed that NSCDC personnel had recently survived an ambush, with a damaged operational vehicle serving as evidence of the risks faced by officers in the line of duty.

He said the support of the Sokoto State Government, particularly the provision of four operational vehicles, including an armoured vehicle, had strengthened the command’s operational capacity.

“If not for the effort of the state government, especially the four vehicles recently provided to us, including the armoured vehicle, something could have happened. The bullets could not penetrate and the men were able to escape,” he said.

Ajayi said the sacrifices and challenges faced by security personnel would often remain unknown to the public without media reports bringing them to light.

“Nobody will hear this if not for people like you. Nobody will speak about our contributions to the public if not for your presence,” he added.

The commandant urged journalists to maintain professionalism and responsibility when reporting security matters, stressing that accurate information was essential to building public confidence and countering misinformation.

He said tackling insecurity required the collective efforts of security agencies, governments, communities, journalists and other stakeholders.

Ajayi assured members of the Correspondents’ Chapel that the NSCDC would maintain its open-door policy and strengthen its relationship with the media in the interest of public safety.

He said sustained cooperation and information-sharing remained important to protecting lives and property and addressing the security challenges confronting Nigeria.