By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
In line with its bold resolve and concerted efforts to fight all forms of criminal activities in Imo State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has declared its determination to partner with the Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo Council in fighting against dissemination fake news.
The NSCDC gave the assurance Tuesday, through its state Commandant Mr Matthew Ovye while unveiling the “Information Not Disinformation” campaign initiated by the Correspondents Chapel, at the command’s headquarters, Owerri.
He said that the “Information Not Disinformation“ campaign is a brainchild of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo Council , aimed at effective partnerships with security agencies in Imo State to fight insecurity through responsive journalism and accurate reporting.
The commandant who commended the chapel for the initiative described it as apt and couldn’t have come at a better time than now when the state was grappling with the effects of misinformation and disinformation in the fight against insecurity.
He expressed confidence that the campaign will correct disinformation so as to enhance economic activities for growth and development of the state.
According to him, the corps remained committed to protection of critical national assets using its anti vandal and agro rangers units as well as the special intelligence squad of the Commandant-General, CG Ahmed Abubakar-Audi.
He thanked the CG and the Imo State governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, for their continued support which has created the enabling environment for the activities of security agencies, the media and other stakeholders in the fight against insecurity.
His words, “Security is everybody’s business and our successes cannot be complete without the support of the media, especially the Correspondents’ Chapel.
“My Commandant-General has asked me to convey his regards to you and his commitment to correct information dissemination facilitated by your chapel
“We have continued to collaborate with other security agencies and I can assure you that we are winning the war against insecurity “, he said.
He however urged journalists in the state to partner with the corps as it carries out its “Safe Schools “ project, to secure pre-secondary schools across the state.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Chinonso Alozie of the Vanguard Newspapers, thanked the commandant for his “ebullient response to challenges of insecurity in the state.”
He expressed the chapel’s readiness for effective collaborations for the success of the campaign and assured the corps of the chapel’s commitment to professional reporting.
“We are currently sensitizing security agencies in the state on the need for effective partnerships for a more responsive journalism which aims to inform rather than misinform or misinform the public.
“Soon, when we conclude the sensitization visits, we will proceed with an official launch of the “Information Not Disinformation campaign and the era of misinformation by quacks will be in the past”, he said.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of a partnership letter to the commandant by Alozie and the unveiling of the campaign in the presence of senior officers of the command and officials of the chapel.
