By Rhoda Godwin
YENAGOA, BAYELSA — When crime occurs, information can travel quickly—but so can fear, rumours and misinformation.
For the new Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Adewale, better cooperation with journalists could help ensure that accurate information reaches the public while security concerns are promptly brought to the attention of the police.
Adewale made the appeal on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Yenagoa.
The Commissioner described journalists as important partners in keeping communities safe, stressing that security should not be left to the police and other security agencies alone.
He said the police and the media have different responsibilities but a common interest—creating a society where residents can go about their daily activities without fear.
“Under my watch, the Nigerian Police will create the enabling environment for everyone to perform their lawful duties without fear or intimidation,” Adewale assured.
He also promised an open-door policy, saying journalists would have 24-hour access to the command to report incidents and draw attention to developments requiring police intervention.
For residents of Bayelsa, where communities are spread across riverine and hard-to-reach areas, such access could prove important in ensuring that incidents are reported quickly and that security agencies receive information from communities in real time.
Beyond crime reporting, the Commissioner raised concerns about discipline within the police and the dangers of drug abuse, warning officers against indiscipline and violations of operational guidelines.
He described discipline as the foundation of effective policing and said officers must conduct themselves in ways that would strengthen public confidence in the force.
Adewale also pledged closer cooperation with sister security agencies, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the State Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies to confront crime and drug abuse.
He assured that the command would work to provide adequate policing across the state.
Earlier, NUJ Bayelsa Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, welcomed the Commissioner and assured him that journalists in the state were prepared to work with the police in the interest of peace, security and development.
Yemoleigha expressed optimism that the visit would mark the beginning of a stronger and sustained relationship between the police and the media.
The NUJ Zonal Secretary, Comrade John Angese, also commended the Commissioner for reaching out to journalists and wished him success in his assignment, praying that his tenure in Bayelsa would pave the way for his elevation.
For both sides, the message from the meeting was clear: fighting crime requires more than patrols and arrests. It also requires trust, timely information and a relationship between security agencies, journalists and the communities they serve.
