The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olugbenga Adepoju, has visited the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Port Harcourt to express his regret over the recent assault on journalists by police personnel in the state.
The commissioner, who was out of state during the incident, said he was shocked to hear about the assault and immediately ordered an investigation.
He stated that no evidence was presented to justify the actions of the police officers involved, leading to the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area.
“Journalists are a vital part of our society, and we highly value their work,” said Adepoju.
“I assure you that this incident will not be repeated. We are committed to working with journalists to ensure a safe and conducive environment for them to carry out their duties.”
The NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, expressed his concern over the incident and called for a thorough investigation to identify and punish the officers responsible.
“We are pleased that the DPO has been removed, but we insist on a full investigation to identify and appropriately discipline the officers who perpetrated this assault,” Bazia said.
He also suggested that the CP held a reorientation programme for his officers to ensure they understood and respected the roles of journalists and maintain proper conduct during public duties.
The CP assured the NUJ leadership that he would take all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. He emphasized his commitment to maintaining a strong partnership between the police and the media.
