ELECTRONIC MEDIA IS MAGIC WAND IN FIGHTING CRIME,SAYS KEYAMO, COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN),Festus Keyamo on Tuesday said the electronic media have taken over as “number one weapon” to fight insecurity globally.
The Humanright activist spoke as a guest lecturer at a programme in commemoration of the 2017 World Television Day celebration organised by the Broadcast Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN).
The theme is “Impact of Electronic Media on Governance and Political Economy in Nigeria.”
In the lecture,he noted that electronic media had been expanded beyond traditional radio and television to encompass social media.
Keyamo said electronic media commands largest followers in the world,pointing out that the new media as fastest platform of sending and receiving information could be explored by security agencies to track down criminals in shortest possible time.
He,however, warned Federal Government against curtailing the use of social media, explaining that purveyors of abusive and inflammatory comments should be brought to book.
The legal practitioner equally noted that the social media have strengthened citizens’ power to hold government accountable and participate actively in governance.
Keyamo emphasised that the aborted move by the National Assembly to pass Social Media Bill would have amounted to “using sledge hammer to kill a mosquito.”
Hear him,”In fact, what we have now is what we called Social Media Republic. Electronic media have so much power. In fact the number one weapon to fight insecurity is electronic media’.
‘ It makes job of the police very easy. These days, you don’t need a magic before you can reach a Commissioner of Police. If any incident happens now, you can get across to the Commissioner of Police in one minutes. That is the power of electronic media’,he stated.
“My own submission is to allow it (social media) to thrive rather than to kill it as they try to do through the Social Media Bill. People should be allowed to ventilate their views, their grievances, and their angers whenever they want, it will improve governance,” Keyamo said.
In his remark,Commissioner of Police,Ahmed Ilyasu corroborated Keyamo’s views noting that the introduction of tracking system with aid of electronic devices, crime fighting has been “simplified.”
His words “Globally, you have this tracking system and the use of electronic devices in checking crimes and criminality. You will find out that with the introduction and it’s facilitation by the Inspector General of Police we have been achieving a lot in tracking down high-profile cases across the country’.
The police boss commended members of the fourth estate of the realm describing them as worthy partners in fight against crime in Ogun State.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his remark admitted that journalists have kept his government on its toes and as well brought the needs of citizens to government attention.
Amosun who was represented by Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, urged journalists to be fair and avoid infringement on individuals’ rights while carrying out their professional duties.
The BJAN President, Kazeem Olowe earlier in his welcome address noted that electronic media have played vital roles in the political and economic development of Nigeria since it inception.
He assured that as body of broadcast journalists the association would continue to be peoples’ advocate, promoter of truth, fairness, justice and equity.
The association boss disclosed that the association which started with 12 members last year Caan now boast of more than 500 members across Nigeria.
The programme also featured awards presentation to Festus Keyamo, Ahmed Iliyasu(commissioner of police), Otunba Dayo Adeneye(commissioner for information), the Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Ogun State, Alhaji Ibrahim Olaniyan and the Chairman, DAKTAD Hotel, Abeokuta, Hon Habeeb Ajayi.
Notable dignatories at the event include, Chairman,Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ),Ogun State Council, Wole Shokunbi, Founder of Penpushing Media Platform, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Soji Ganzallo(Ogun State Commander, Vigilante Services).
Others include; Dr Goke Rauf(Director of Communications,Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,Abeokuta, Adams Uba(Head of Operations, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad),Abimbola Oyeyemi(Public Relations Officer,Ogun State Police Command) and Sulaiman Adebiyi(Public Relations Officer,Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,Abeokuta among others
