Working Journalists in the country have been described as veritable tools for peacebuilding initiatives as they use their reports to douse tension and promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance.
The assertion was made by the Police Commissioner, Bauchi State Command, Sylvester Abiodun Alabi while handing over some items lost by the reporter of AIT, Damina Yusuf when he had a clash with some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) while covering a protest by students of College of Agriculture, Bauchi recently.
The Commissioner of Police stressed that Journalists and the Police are partners in progress considering the fact that they are all working for the good of the society because according to him, “while the Journalists inform, educate and entertain the public, the Police provide security, maintain law and order for the public to enjoy what comes from the media.”
Sylvester Alabi described the incident as most unfortunate stressing that it was uncalled for assuring that it will not happen again as long as he remains the Police Commissioner in charge of the Command stressing that Police personnel must always be civil in their approaches to issues.
The Police Boss then presented a new laptop computer, a digital camera and two smartphones lost by the AIT reporter during the incident.
Sylvester Abiodun then commended the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state for jettisoning its planned street demonstration against the action of the Police following his sympathy visit to the NUJ Press Center on the day of the planned protest.
He also appealed to the Union to find it expedient to lift the ban on the coverage of the Nigeria Police activities in the state so that their operations could be publicized and reiterated the readiness of the Command to work harmoniously with working Journalists for the good of the people of the state.
While responding, Chairman of the NUJ in Bauchi state, Comrade Umar Sa’id lauded the Police Commissioner for his concern for the plight of the victim and for redeeming his pledge to give compensations.
Umar Said described the development as a new dawn in effective policing saying that with this exceptional display, it has proven that indeed Police is everybody’s friend urging the Police Commissioner to go on with his style of operation in the state and anywhere he finds himself.
He then assured that the Union would immediately convene a meeting with the state executive council with a view to reviewing the embargo imposed on the Police advising members not to see Police as enemies but friends and partners in the service to humanity.
It will be recalled that 3 weeks ago, the African Independent Television (AIT) reporter, Nagari Damina Yusuf was assaulted and wounded by some officers attached to the Rapid Response Squad while on official duty.
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