By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka has attributed the timely release of the kidnapped journalist, Mrs Priestba Anthony Nwokocha, to the heat visited on her abductors by the State’s police command.
He also commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Chapter for joining hands with the police to mount unbearable pressure on the criminals to let go of her.
CP Emeka said this while expressing his gratitude to the NUJ during a thank-you visit the body paid to the command.
He stated that upon the distress call from the NUJ State Secretary, Ike Wigodo, various tactical measures were deployed to ensure the release of the kidnapped journalist.
“Thank you for finding this time to come and rub minds with us. The (NUJ) Secretary called and I said the way kidnappers operate, they will call demanding ransom, let’s have the number that they would call with.”
“I know how passionate he was from his voice on the phone. I assured him that we were going to do something. We worked tirelessly to get her out; we followed up their every move. With the pressure from us, they had no choice but to drop their prey.
He remarked that the Media remains the conscience of society, and thus has a major role to play in shaping society, commending journalists in the State for publicity given to the campaign against crime and criminality by the Police since his arrival in the State.
“The Media is the conscience of society and you have a major role to play to make things right. Crime and criminality may be normal but what do we do to nip it in the bud? I want to appreciate the journalists in Rivers State for their efforts,” the commissioner said.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council had commended the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Rivers State Command for the speedy release of Mrs Nwokocha.
Mrs Priestba Anthony Nwokocha who is the Director News Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, RSBC was kidnapped on Thursday night when she was returning from work in Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the NUJ Rivers State Council, Stanley Job Stanley commended the Police when he led a delegation of his members to appreciate the police commissioner at the State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Stanley said the Media was happy with the spirit of fighting crime in the state.
According to him, “This visit is to say thank you to the command for the roles you played in the release of our colleague, Mrs Priestba Nwokocha. We’re here to say Thank you.”
He urged CP Nwonyi and his officers and men to sustain the heat on organized crime with a view to flushing out criminal elements who he said were undermining the relative peace in the State.
He called for greater synergy with the Media, pointing out that given the nature of their job, journalists needed protection to do their work.
“We journalists need police protection to do our job. Our colleagues work 24 hours a day depending on the shift they are working and sometimes, they close very late in the night and are exposed to danger; that is why we need constant protection and cooperation.
“Please do not relent in the work you and your men are doing. We want to urge you to continue what you’re doing to chase away criminals from the State. The NUJ in the State wants to strengthen our relationship with police”, he noted.
