The NIPR Imo State Chapter has proposed a public relations partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command, aimed at strengthening public confidence in policing across the state.
The proposal was tabled during a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, on Friday, 5 June 2026, at the Command Headquarters in Owerri.
The Chapter Chairman, Mr. Zandas Okeke Otigba, who led the delegation, observed that the long-standing “Police is your friend” campaign was itself a public relations response to a perception problem in Nigeria.
He argued that the time has come for the Imo Chapter to lead the conception of a contemporary slogan that addresses present realities and that could be adopted nationally. He further indicated that NIPR is ready to conduct a public opinion survey on police perception among the Imo populace as part of what a working partnership could deliver. Findings from such a survey would, in turn, provide the evidence base for any new public confidence campaign he said.
The Chairman acknowledged the central role of the Police in national security and citizens’ personal safety, and commended the Imo State Command for its swift response to the recent security incident in Ihiagwa and the ongoing forest sweeps in Owerri West LGA aimed at stemming threats along that axis.
Speaking on welfare and crime response, Welfare Officer Destiny Akunesi urged the Command to widely circulate emergency contact numbers to enable faster citizen reporting and more effective response.
Responding, CP Audu Garba Bosso described the visit as timely.
He noted that the Police cannot operate in isolation from the society they serve and must seek to understand crime patterns and community needs. He stressed that public perception is central to effective policing, while also noting that citizens should appreciate that the Police enforce laws made by the legislators they elect. What citizens sometimes perceive as a Police problem, he said, may in fact be a problem with the subsisting law.
The Commissioner called for stronger citizen-Police engagement, urging the public to verify information directly with the Command to curb the spread of misinformation. He also drew attention to the international standing of the Nigeria Police Force, which has consistently earned commendation during peacekeeping operations abroad.
On internal accountability, CP Bosso was candid: “If you don’t tell us our flaws, how can we change or improve? Whatever we are is a replica of the society.
When you identify lapses, point them out so that we can improve.”
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, an associate of NIPR, moderated the interaction. He affirmed the value of a structured NIPR-Police partnership in advancing public confidence and improving institutional communication.
The NIPR delegation comprised Chairman Mr. Zandas Okeke Otigba, Secretary Dr. Samuel Uche Macaulay, Assistant Secretary Dr. Nnaemeka Ijioma, Public Relations Officer Ukana Omon, Treasurer Violet Igwe, and Welfare Officer Destiny Akunesi.
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