Abia Security: CP Onwuemelie charges OMPAN on professionalism.

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Commissioner of Police, Abia state, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie on Monday exhibited an unusual side of him while playing host to members of Abia state chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN in his office at the police headquarters in Umuahia.

The informal meeting between the bloggers and top ranking officers of the command provided an opportunity for for the police boss to explain and answer questions about some security issues that happened recently in the state.

The C.P. underscored the importance of online media, saying,”In many cases, news coming from your platforms actually make a wider audience.”

He advised bloggers to use the advantage of their medium to promote factual reportage, professionalism and to also stand firm as the watchdog of the society.

“it will be to the advantage OMPAN members, especially in the use of the online media which is now referred to as new media.

“It is for your own advantage because you are the ones who truly speak for the people.

“The mainstream media has also recognized the importance of this, some of them now have segments dedicated to online media, so nobody can play down on your importance.” CP Kenechukwu said.

Continuing, he expressed the readiness of the command to partner OMPAN on information gathering, dissemination and policing of Abia State in order to keep Abia safer for the citizens. “You are not taking your job lightly and I like it, we need to be up on our toes. “I’m also happy that you know that we need to be partners. Let’s also know that the bottom line is the benefit of the people.”I assure you of our support and continued collaboration, he said.

Chairman of OMPAN in the state, Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro earlier in his speech said there was need for the media to follow tracks of security developments promptly and appealed for proper synergy.

He assured of OMPAN’S support to the police This is even as OMPAN has assured to support the police in its fight against crime .

He also extolled the leadership nature of the s, which he observed might have helped to ensure the relative peace in the state, stating that OMPAN is happy to be part of his career’s success story.

“You cannot joke with the online media because there’s no editorial bottlenecks. “We want to tell you that we are happy with the way you are administering the Police Command in Abia state and we want to be partners in progress, we want to help you fight fake news. we will continue to support the police.” Chief Okoro said.

The chairman who alfassured the CP of the credibility and professionalism of OMPAN members, especially with the revalidation exercise carried out recently by his administration for improved data banking of OMPAN members, said that members under his watch would promote objectivity in their reportage of the command and the state in general.

The OMPAN chairman also commended the media friendly nature of CP Kenechukwu and applauded gallantry of the command’s operatives who helped tracked amd arrested kidnap suspects of Professor Godwin Emezue, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Abia State University in February and the arrest of a student who killed a fellow student in Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).

He further commended the peaceful intervention and resolution on the issue of the invasion of the office of an OMPAN member; Ifeanyi Okali (ABN office) in Umuahia by some policemen in January during a live program while enforcing an arrest on a reported case.