EFCC Benin Boss Seeks Media Alliance to Reclaim Zone’s Glorious Past
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Benin has extended an olive branch to the media, urging a powerful collaboration to fight crime and restore the zone’s past glory.
Mr. Effa Okim, the acting Zonal Director, made the plea during a visit to the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday.
Okim, visibly concerned about the crime surge in Edo, Delta, and Ondo states, underscored the importance of proactive measures. He emphasised the need to move beyond reacting to crimes and focus on preventive tactics.
“After barely a month on the job, I was troubled by the crime situation here,” Okim confessed. “We need the media as partners. Prevention is better than cure.”
The acting director stressed that parental guidance is crucial. He acknowledged the rich cultural heritage of Edo and the Delta, known for their brave and honourable people. Okim urged media outlets to work with stakeholders to strengthen family bonds and promote positive values.
“We can only achieve so much through enforcement,” Okim explained. “Collaborating with the media will empower you to reach parents and influence their children. Those who choose crime will face the legal consequences.”
Okim emphasised that the EFCC’s partnership with the media is purely professional, aimed at upholding the law. He recognised the media’s instrumental role in the agency’s success since its inception in 2003.
“The media has been our backbone in terms of national and global recognition,” Okim said. “The public wouldn’t know about our work without you.”
Drawing a historical parallel, Okim referenced the resilience of the Benin Kingdom. He highlighted how the kingdom’s king, upon facing colonial invasion, found refuge in Calabar, Okim’s ancestral home.
“Now, I stand before you in Benin,” Okim said. “It feels like a homecoming, an ancestral calling to revive that bond. Just as your ancestors supported mine, I need your media’s support to succeed. Together, we cannot fail.”
Okim expressed concern about the erosion of the region’s traditionally cherished values of bravery, courage, and creativity.
He pointed to a “disconnect” from the cultural legacy established by past generations.
The NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel chairman, Mr. Okies Okpomor, welcomed the collaboration and pledged the media’s unwavering support in the collective fight for a better society.
