The Oyo State Commissioner of Police Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko has called on the public to stop relating with security operatives with a negative mindset.
Onadeko gave this advice on Thursday while receiving Olagoke Olatoye, the South-West Zonal Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in her office at the command’s headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The CP said Nigerians must deal with the bias against the police and other security agencies in the state for the good of society.
“Don’t transfer your hatred for an officer on the generality of the people in uniform.
“The police are your friends and let us work together. The earlier we remove the bias on people in uniform, the better for all of us,” she said.
Appealing for the cooperation of residents to further keep Oyo state safe, the CP encouraged them to report incidents first to the police, before approaching the media.
“What I have noticed in Oyo State is that they will not first inform the police when an incident happens before going to the media.
“Unfortunately, the media would have made their judgment about the incident before expecting the police to respond without making an investigation,” she said.
CP Onadeko, therefore, called on the media to be objective, adding ‘’the media and police are all working toward the same goal, which is to make the society better.’’
Earlier, Mr Olatoye said his courtesy visit was to strengthen the existing bond between the agency and the police for a harmonious working relationship.
He, therefore, urged the police to always provide timely information to the
media to avoid misrepresentation in reports produced.