NUJ Tasks Govt on Urgent Measures to Tackle Worsening Insecurity

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern about the growing level of insecurity in the country, particularly in Delta State, where unprecedented influx into the state of persons with no known or verifiable identities and residential addresses, as heightening insecurity gives residents sleepless nights.

The Union noted the worrisome presence of a large number of children aged between four and 14 roaming busy centres in Asaba and surrounding areas in the state capital territory, including the Coka Junction Flyover on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway, where many destitute and street urchins now regularly spend the night.

The NUJ called for “periodic profiling of residents, especially those without means of identification,” as a practical step towards stemming the observed increase in crime in the state.

It also called on the relevant security agencies, including the police and immigration personnel “to carry out periodic raids on uncompleted buildings and other identified black spots inhabited by misreants to restore peace and order in the state.”

These formed the highpoints of a communiqué at the end of its first congress in the New Year, which was also the first under Churchill Oyowe as chairman of the state council of the NUJ, held at the secretariat of the Union on Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba, the state capital.

While acknowledging the right of residents and visitors to freedom of movement, the NUJ stressed the need for “the relevant government agencies to carry out oversight on beggars in certain areas, such as Interbau, DBS, and Koka Roundabout, all in Asaba and other urban centres across the state to restore sanity.

The communiqué further urged the police and other security agencies “to check/regulate the activities of commercial tricycles and motorcycles operators, which has increasingly grown in intensity around major urban areas, including Asaba.

It also called “for the banning of the activities of scavengers, popularly called ‘Iron Condemn’ in Delta State

Meanwhile, the Union said: “Calls for the non-involvement of the executive arm of government in the appointment of senior electoral officers of the electoral body (INEC), such as Chairman, Commissioners and REC (Resident Electoral Commissioner), and its funding should directly come from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to ensure credible elections in the country, as well as reduce the judicialisation of the electoral process.

“We also condemn the recent police invasion of a live television programme in Abia State, and urge sanctions on all those found culpable.

“The Union lauds the judgment of the Abuja High Court that the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) cannot impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breach of its code.

“Finally, the Congress calls for the decentralisation of policing in the country to pave the way for federal, state, metropolitan and local government police, and to ensure the effective security of lives and property in the country.”

The communiqué was signed by Churchill Oyowe, chairman, NUJ Delta Council; Victor Sorokwu, secretary, NUJ, Delta Council as well as members of Communiqué Drafting Committee: Godwin Ijediogor (chairman), Ifeanyi Olannye (secretary), and Ifeoma Okafor (member).