By Ogar Monday
The Director, State Security Service, Cross River State Command, Mr. Fubara Duke has stated that Cross River State “is not as unsafe as most people like to put it” and that the State fares better in terms of security when compared to other States in the region.
Mr. Fubara stated this when members of the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) paid him a familiarization visit recently in his office.
He further said that although the State has its share of communal clashes arising from dispute over ownership of lands, the State and its indigenes are peaceful and law abiding.
Mr. Fubara further charged members of the online media in the State to be factual and apply necessary journalistic ethics in their reportage.
He said the Department appreciates the role of the media in national integration, and that both the media and the DSS have stakes therein.
Mr. Duke added that he is impressed and gladdened that an association of such has been formed to implement standards and taking off the mask off their members, as one of the challenges facing the online media is the number of faceless blogs and online personalities spreading falsehood.
Earlier speaking, the Acting Chairman of ACROJ, Mr. Hope Obeten, stated that the visit was to intimate the DSS boss of the existence of the group and explore possible areas of partnership, especially in the areas of confirmation of facts and information sharing.
He maintained that “at all cost, we will ensure that our members maintain professional standards, we hope for a smooth working relationship with your office in getting the job done.”