The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) of Zone 4, Makurdi, Zachariah Achinyan, has stated that members of the public who show dislike for journalists likely have something bad to hide. He stated this during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, to the Zonal headquarters in Makurdi on Tuesday.
AIG Achinyan assured journalists of great cooperation to achieve more effective policing and encouraged them to focus on individuals believed to have hatred for the media. According to him, his office is open to stronger media cooperation to help him succeed. The AIG advised journalists to let him know about any challenges they encounter in the partnership aimed at protecting life and property across the zone.
He stressed that journalists need to focus on individuals with hidden motives who are bad elements in society. He advised journalists to apply the same level of scrutiny to police officers who avoid media interaction. In his view, journalism does not protect those with ulterior motives.
Earlier in his remark, Comrade Ugber lauded AIG Achinyan’s determination to secure the zone, despite it being among the most crisis-prone areas in North Central Nigeria. The NUJ Chairman praised the AIG for preventing politicians from harassing journalists in the state since he took over in the zone, encouraging the 43rd AIG of the Zone to continue the good work.
While thanking the senior police officer for cutting down on roadblocks and improving traffic flow on major highways, the NUJ Chairman appealed to the AIG to extend the same measures to rural areas where some individuals appear to be extorting users of motorcycles.
