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Put Safety First, Abia CP Urges Women Journalists
Put Safety First, Abia CP Urges Women Journalists
The Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, has urged women journalists to prioritise their safety when covering potentially dangerous assignments, warning that no story is worth losing their lives over.
CP Afolabi gave the advice on Monday while delivering a lecture titled “Reporting Safely: What Every Woman Journalist Should Know About Security, Risk and the Police”, at the monthly meeting of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Abia State Chapter, held at the NUJ Press Centre, Aba Road, Umuahia.
The Police Commissioner advised female journalists to assess assignment risks, check security conditions, stay in touch with colleagues and identify escape routes before entering volatile areas.
He also urged reporters to work in teams and withdraw promptly whenever a situation became life-threatening.
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“If a situation deteriorates or becomes life-threatening, do not hesitate to withdraw to a safer location.
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“Remember that withdrawing from danger is not a sign of weakness or professional failure. It is a demonstration of sound judgement and responsible decision-making.
“The story can wait. Your life cannot be replaced. Don’t die the death of a hero.
“No story, no matter how important or exclusive, is worth losing your life or suffering preventable injuries”, CP Afolabi added.
The Police Chief also urged journalists to verify security-related information before publication, warning that unverified reports could cause panic, mislead the public, compromise security operations and endanger lives.
He however, clarified that responsible reporting should not be used as a justification to restrict press freedom or discourage journalists from asking difficult questions.
The commissioner further called on media organisations to provide regular safety training, establish emergency communication procedures and support reporters who encounter threats while performing their duties.
He said journalists’ safety was a shared responsibility involving media practitioners, their employers, professional associations, security agencies and society at large.
The police chief highlighted the additional risks confronting women journalists, including gender-based harassment, intimidation, cyberstalking and online threats.
He noted that such abuses could affect the professional responsibilities and personal well-being of female journalists.
CP Afolabi urged women journalists to to always exercise caution when sharing their locations, travel plans and personal information online.
The police commissioner advised journalists facing online harassment to document and preserve relevant evidence, strengthen the security of their online accounts and report credible threats to the appropriate authorities.
He disclosed that the Abia State Police Command established a Cybercrime Unit to address cybercrime-related complaints and could be contacted on 091-2639-1978.
The commissioner further called on media organisations to provide regular safety training, establish emergency communication procedures and support reporters who encounter threats while performing their duties.
He said journalists’ safety was a shared responsibility that involves media practitioners, their employers, professional associations, security agencies and the society at large.
CP Afolabi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professional engagement with the media and encouraged journalists to report security concerns and credible threats through appropriate channels.
He commended the leadership of the Abia State NAWOJ for organising the meeting and expressed hope that its deliberations would translate into practical measures to improve the safety of women journalists.
In her speech earlier, the Chairperson NAWOJ, Abia State Chapter, Amb. Norah Okafor, said the training was important to guide female journalists in carrying out their duties safely and professionally, particularly during the electioneering period.
Amb. Okafor added the training was aimed at educating members on safety precautions, personal security and the need to maintain their mental well-being while carrying out their professional responsibilities.
The NAWOJ Chairperson urged members to remain resilient in the face of the challenges associated with their work, stressing the importance of being vigilant, prioritising their safety and promptly reporting suspicious movements or activities to the Nigeria Police.
She also used the opportunity to appreciate members for their support and commitment to the association and appealed for greater unity, cooperation and solidarity among members to strengthen the association and advance their collective interests.
In her vote of thanks, veteran journalist and pioneer chairperson, NAWOJ, Abia State chapter, Lady Nwaka Amuwa, thanked the Commissioner of Police for partnering with the association to promote journalists’ safety and assured him of members’ commitment to responsible journalism, professional conduct and sustained collaboration with the police.
The event, which featured an interactive session, was attended by the Force Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chilaka, Chairman of the Association of Heads of Federal Establishments in Abia State, Lady Gloria Abiakam and veteran members of the association among others.
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