By Dada Ahmed
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in kwara state, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, has urged Journalists in the state to always seek reaction of the police on crime stories within the core mandate of the police before publication or airing them.
Okasanmi, who gave the advice in a statement he issued in Ilorin on Wednesday, expressed concern about the behaviour of some Journalists seeking reaction of an organization other than the police on cases being handled by the police, which he noted should, statutorily, be the core responsibility of the police.
He said” Our friends here will publish without clearing from the right source. I expect we should go a little further to ask for update on such cases from the agency that is releasing the statement.
To buttress his point, the police image maker disclosed that a case was being investigated by the police, adding that while the police was awaiting the details, an agent of the other organization heard the story and in view of his proximity to the area, ran to the press “and some of our colleagues here will go on air with it.”
“A case in reference was that of a man injured in Kaiama area, day before yesterday,that the police is still investigating. The guy went and snapped the victim in the hospital where the police rushed him to and forwarded it to his Officer, all in a bid to be seen doing something,”he added.
According to him, cases bordering on homicide, arson, rape, assault and others should be confirmed by the police before publication, reminding Journalists that such cases are within the core responsibility of the police.
