The Kwara state Police Command has partnered with members of the Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ) in the fight against insecurity, with an assurance that the command is winning the war against banditry.
The Kwara state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo stated this while receiving members of the Guild led by its chairman, Mr. Opeyemi Adeoti, in his office yesterday.
The CP who expressed appreciation for the visit, described journalists as partners in progress whose work is crucial to governance and security management.
He urged practitioners to embrace balanced and factual reporting, cautioning against sensationalism that could heat up the polity.
“It is the responsibility of journalists to verify and authenticate information before publishing. You are important to the government and the Command because, without you, nobody would know the good work we are doing. With your support, we will defeat banditry and insecurity. Kwara shares forest borders with states like Zamfara, but we are determined to secure the state,” the CP said.
Ojo disclosed that the Command is making progress in addressing insecurity in Kwara South, noting that displaced residents are beginning to return to their communities.
He attributed the successes recorded to the support of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who facilitated the deployment of 15 armored vehicles in collaboration with the National Security Adviser’s office.
On allegations linking traditional rulers to insecurity in the state, the CP dismissed the claims, insisting that no monarch has been implicated or arrested.
He warned against the spread of fake news and misinformation.
Addressing concerns about police misconduct, Ojo emphasized that while the force comprises both good and bad elements, the Command prioritizes discipline.
He reminded citizens that searching phones without a warrant is a punishable offence, attracting a five-year jail term.
He also provided updates on high-profile cases, including the Egbejila murder, clarifying that investigations revealed the victim was killed by her husband, not her brother-in-law, as earlier speculated.
The CP further disclosed that new police recruitment now prioritizes posting officers to their local government areas, a development he described as a step toward community-oriented policing.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the guild, Mr. Opeyemi Adeoti, pledged the support of the guild to fighting crime and criminality in the state while also reiterating commitment to promoting professionalism and ethical standards in the digital media space.
Adeoti commended the CP for his years of service, rising through the ranks to his current position, and for his leadership in tackling security challenges in the state.
He noted that online journalism has become a dominant force in information dissemination, but lamented the infiltration of the space by non-professionals.
“Online journalism has come to stay and is already rivaling mainstream media. However, it has been infiltrated by untrained practitioners. As professionals with backgrounds in mainstream journalism, we in GDJ see it as our duty to sanitize the digital space. We are here to partner with the Police Command and also promise accurate reportage of your efforts in combating insecurity and banditry in Kwara State,” Adeoti said.
Also speaking, the Guild’s Secretary explained that GDJ consists of experienced journalists with backgrounds in established media houses before venturing into online platforms.
He emphasized the Guild’s motto as the “forerunner of ethical journalism,” stressing that members understand the power and responsibility of the digital space in the 21st century.
The courtesy visit ended with GDJ members reaffirming their commitment to supporting the Command through responsible reportage and constructive partnership.
.jpeg)