Nation
US Embassy Tasks Journalists On Reporting Women Issues
The United States Embassy, through its Public Affairs Section, in collaboration with the Organisation of Innovation and Sustainable Development (OISD), has trained about 35 female journalists in Gombe State on effective reportage of issues affecting women.
The Senior Programme Manager of OISD, Mr Ernest Ogezi, while speaking at the end of the three-day training workshop held in Gombe, said women-related issues needed more reportage.
Ogezi said the training was aimed at addressing gender disparities within the media industry with focus on the Northeast in view of the fact that the region had been ravaged with so many issues from violence.
He stated that a woman was in better position to tell a woman’s story effectively towards changing the narrative for the overall good of the society.
He urged female journalists to intensify efforts and focus reportage on issues in the zone and Nigeria, which directly affected women and girls.
Ogezi said it had become imperative for female journalists to give voices to untold stories surrounding women as well as amplify issues that could result to positive change for women and girls in the state.
According to him, women in Gombe state and Northeast have unique stories that must be told and female journalists are better placed to tell the stories to create change.
“It is a three days training with nine modules on different subject matters, including investigative journalism, equity and equality, ethics of news reportage, how to report women in violent conflict situations.
“Also, they were trained on how to report women who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence. We are teaching ethics and trying to improve the performance of female journalists in these areas,” he said.
The OISD official stated that women issues had not been given the needed reportage in the media in spite of having female journalists and “that is why we are empowering them”.
“Female journalists have an advantage over male journalists when it comes to reporting women matters.
“They understand and can empathise, they can put themselves in the position of the other women and do better.
“That is why we are saying report women; women who are pushing their children forward through their petty trade, report women in any field, any day, anytime”, he said.
While acknowledging culture as one of the issues hindering growth of women, Ogezi said women could grow without offending cultural norms.
“We are not here to change the culture but to improve the lives of women and this can only be done through women themselves”, he added.
Speaking on the benefits of the training to her as a participant, Miss Rebecca Maina, a female journalist with Gombe Media Corporation, said the training was a call for more action.
The Chairman of the Osun State Park Management System (OSTMS), Comrade Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, was reportedly shot by officers of the state police command in the late hours of Monday.
The union, in a statement issued by its Secretary, Mikaela Popoola, in Osogbo, confirmed that its chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody.
According to him, the shooting of the chairman occurred while in police custody, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting call for a thorough investigation.
The union scribe, who reiterated that the chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody, called on members of OSTMS not to take the law into their own hands.
He stressed, “We must maintain peace across the parks while we take the matter up with the appropriate authorities.”
While confirming the shooting, a top Police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “Alowonle was arrested in connection with the alleged killing of one Oyewale in 2022 and the assault of some residents on Monday night.
“He was shot while attempting to escape and has been taken to a hospital for treatment.”
According to him, Alowonle was maimed by the police gunshot, and a Hummer bus with registration number AWK 480YD, an unregistered Nissan Almera, and a Toyota Sienna with registration number GNN 595 XD were also recovered from him.
“During the arrest, a Barrett pistol, six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and one expended empty shell were recovered from Alowonle’s private unregistered Toyota Highlander jeep,” the officer said.
“Alowonle and his boys conveyed themselves in a Previn bus with registration number RBC 275XK, but a distress call to the police led to his arrest. He was rearrested at Susi area of Oke-Baale, Osogbo, alongside eight others before being taken to the state police command.”
Meanwhile, all possible efforts made to reach the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, for comment on the incident proved abortive as calls put to her mobile phone were not answered.
The Rivers State Police Command has announced that its operatives neutralised a suspected kidnapper and cultist, identified as Gbarani Bume, in the Luawii Community of Khana Local Government Area (LGA).
Bume, also known as Pelele, was a member of the infamous Iceland cult group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA along with his gang.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Iringe-Koko said that Pelele and his gang attempted to kidnap a site engineer working in Luawii when the police, acting on a tip-off, swooped in. Upon sighting the police, the suspects opened fire, but Pelele was fatally wounded after a fierce exchange of gunfire and later died.
The statement reads: “The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat crime, neutralising a notorious cultist and kidnapper, Gbarani Bume, a.k.a. Pelele, a native of Bere Community in Khana LGA.
“He was a member of the Iceland Cult Group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA.
“On the 15th of November 2024, operatives from the Bori Division, acting on a tip-off, were mobilised to Luawii Community where Pelele and his gang were attempting to kidnap a site engineer.
“Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, resulting in a fierce crossfire, during which Pelele was fatally wounded. His accomplices escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the suspect include one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 10 rounds of live ammunition.”
She added, “An investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the other fleeing gang members and bring them to justice.”
The state police spokesperson stated that this operation underscores the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring public safety in the state.