Bauchi State Police Command has vowed to continue to support the brave men and women who risk their lives to disseminate information to all and sundry.
The assertion was made by the State Police Commissioner, Auwal Musa Mohammed in a speech he delivered to the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day organised in conjunction with the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held on Friday at the NUJ Press Center.
Represented by the Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, the CP said that, “I am honored to speak to you today on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. This day marks a celebration of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, which is critical to building a democratic society based on transparency, accountability and justice.”
“As we all know, Journalists play a crucial role in safeguarding the truth, monitoring the actions of those in power, and giving a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard,” he added.
According to him, “However, we should not turn a blind eye to the many challenges that Journalists face in the course of their work. From harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment to even losing their lives, the threats against journalists are very real and pervasive.”
The CP stressed that, “The proliferation of fake news and cybercrime are significant challenges that require a comprehensive approach. We need to work together, across all sectors, to develop policies that hold platforms accountable for the spread of misinformation.”
He also said that,” We also need to ensure that media outlets utilize fact-checking services and clearly label news content to inform readers about the nature of the information they deliver.”
Auwal Musa added that,”Moreover, it is our collective responsibility to educate members of the public about the risks of cybercrime and the impact of misinformation.”
“By teaching people to verify sources and the importance of not spreading unverified information, we can empower individuals to make better decisions online,he added.
According to him,”On this day, we must acknowledge the sacrifices that journalists make to promote peace, security, and harmony in our state and our nation. We must stand in solidarity with them and ensure their security and safety.”
The CP concluded saying, “I want to express my deep appreciation for the robust relationship between the Media and the Bauchi State Police command. As we move forward, let us work together to defend press freedom, and protect the invaluable work of journalists in our increasingly digital world.”
In his speech, Chairman, Bauchi State Council Of Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sa’idu said that the Training For Journalists On World Press Freedom Day was Organised By The Council in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Bauchi State Command with the theme: “Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”.
According to him, “This means, this year, the World Press Freedom Day will be dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.”
He said that Climate and biodiversity crisis are not only affecting the environment and ecosystems but also the lives of billions of people around the world as their stories deserve to be known and shared because exposing the crisis is the first step in solving it.
“That is why the role of Journalists is crucial. It is through their work, their courage and their perseverance that we can know what is happening across the world,” he added .
According to him, “NUJ in Bauchi State in collaboration with the state police command decided to organise a training for 30 Journalists drawn from various media houses as part of activities marking the World Press Freedom Day for this year.”
The NUJ Chairman said that, “We believe that it is only when Journalists are trained and acquainted with ideas and information that they can share the knowledge widely and educate the public via their media platforms, hence, the decision to organise this important training.”
The NUJ decided to draft the PPRO and elder Andee theme, fellow of NIPR to do Justice to the topics that will be discussed.
He explained that his NUJ administration has prioritised training and retraining of members and has organised different trainings for Journalists in the state on several things including election, security and ICT in the past couple of years.
“We will continue to organise more of such trainings for more journalists with a view to enhancing professionalism and service delivery,” he assured .
He urged media practitioners to continue to uphold the ethics of the profession and contribute towards promoting the ideals of democracy, justice, accountability, peace and unity in the country advising them to be utilising the enabling element of freedom of expression to protect human rights as the watchdogs of the society and voice of the voiceless.
“Similarly, in discharging our duties, we should avoid fake news, misinformation and disinformation but we should always strive to ensure accurate and balanced reportage of events and activities,” he added.
The NUJ Chairman commended media practitioners in the state for their commitment in enlightening and sensitising the citizenry on government policies and programmes as well as updating the general public on developments around the state through their reportage.
Umar Sa’idu said that, “Let me also use this opportunity to commend Security agencies in the State, especially Bauchi Police Command under CP Anwal Musa Mohammed for making efforts to provide safe Bauchi State
He also said that,”It is also pertinent to appeal to the government, security agents and other stakeholders to continue to work with the media as partners in progress and critical allies in the development of the nation.”
“Finally, I urge the participants of this training to pay attention to what will be taught during the event and put into practice.”
He concluded saying, “Lastly, let me appeal to His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed to redeem his 2021 pledge of upgrading the only NUJ Secretariat in the state and to give approval for the engagement of casual staff working in our state owned media houses to replace the retired and dead ones.”
