The Abia State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led and community policing, saying its operations are aligned with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to build a professional and accountable police force.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, stated this during a training session on crime mapping, crime timing and crime prevention for police officers and personnel of sister security and community-based agencies in Umuahia, the state capital.
Afolabi, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Anthony Bessy, said the training was designed to strengthen proactive policing and improve security across the state.
He described the IGP’s vision as an effort to build a police force anchored on accountability, professionalism, intelligence gathering and community engagement.
The commissioner urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to their respective operational areas, assuring residents of the command’s commitment to maintaining a safer environment.
In a related development, Afolabi has advised women journalists in Nigeria to prioritise their personal safety, exercise caution during assignments and maintain professional standards in their reporting.
He gave the advice while delivering a lecture at the October congress and training organised by the Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Umuahia.
The lecture, titled “Reporting Safely: What Every Woman Journalist Should Know About Security, Risk and the Police,” focused on the security challenges journalists may encounter while carrying out their duties.
Afolabi warned that journalists should not put their lives at risk in pursuit of exclusive stories, stressing that withdrawing from dangerous situations was a sign of sound judgement rather than professional failure.
“The story can wait. Your life cannot be replaced. Don’t die the death of a hero. No story, no matter how important or exclusive, is worth losing your life or suffering preventable injuries,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to working with NAWOJ and other media stakeholders to promote public safety, protect lives and property, and strengthen public confidence in the police.
The commissioner commended the chapter’s chairperson, Norah Okafor, and its members for organising the programme, expressing hope that the engagement would improve police-media relations and encourage safer reporting practices.
Earlier, Okafor said the training was intended to equip female journalists with practical knowledge of personal security and professional safety, particularly as political activities and electioneering increase.
She said the programme also addressed the importance of protecting journalists’ mental well-being while managing the pressures associated with their work.
Okafor urged members to remain vigilant, resilient and cautious during assignments, while reporting suspicious movements or activities to the police.
