By Cletus Asuquo
The Cross River State Police Command and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, have strengthened their partnership to boost public safety and deepen information-sharing as the festive season approaches.
This followed a courtesy visit yesterday by the leadership of the NUJ to the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Bello at the State Police Headquarters in Calabar, where both sides committed to closer collaboration to maintain the stateโs reputation as one of Nigeriaโs most peaceful destinations.
Receiving the delegation, the CP described the press as โthe last oversight body,โ noting that journalists play a critical role in holding institutions accountable and amplifying security issues that require urgent attention.
He assured that the Command has been working round-the-clock often behind the scenes to neutralise threats, intercept criminal gangs, and prevent attacks across coastal and hinterland communities.
According to him, many of the security breakthroughs achieved in recent months were results of deep intelligence-sharing among the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and other allied agencies.
โIf we donโt tell you, you wonโt even know. We receive intelligence reports dailyโabout sea pirates, gun runners and planned kidnappingsโand we work silently to abort them. What you see as peace today comes from hard work behind the scenes,โ he said.
The CP disclosed that the Command recently intercepted several stolen vehicles, dismantled betting hubs used as criminal hideouts, and intensified surveillance around riverine communities notorious for illegal boat movements.
He said the Command was also enforcing the Inspector-General of Policeโs directive on the ban on fireworks, with operatives already deployed to markets to track sellers of banned explosives ahead of Christmas celebrations.
Also speaking the NUJ Chairman, Archibong Bassey praised the Police for the significant improvement in safety across the state, especially in areas like Satellite Town, which previously battled frequent robbery and kidnapping cases.
She emphasised that journalists in the state have observed โa clear reduction in theft and violent crimes,โ crediting the development to the vigilance of Police personnel.
However, she appealed for heightened security during the festive period, warning that criminals often attempt to take advantage of increased human and vehicular movement to perpetrate crimes.
โWe are partners in building the state and the nation. We will continue to support the Command, โ the Chairman added.
Both parties agreed to deepen communication channels, strengthen mutual trust, and work collaboratively to maintain the stateโs status as a peaceful and safe environment for residents and visitors.
The CP thanked the journalists for the visit, noting that their cooperation was โcritical for projecting accurate informationโ and countering misinformation that could trigger panic.
The visit ended with a renewed commitment to joint efforts aimed at safeguarding lives, protecting communities, and promoting the developmental strides of the state government.
