By Nkechi Eze
A new leadership has emerged for the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN) as members elected Festus Fifen as chairman, with a pledge to prioritise members’ welfare and protect the professional dignity of journalists covering Nigeria’s crime and security sector.
Fifen, a correspondent with BEN Television, was elected during the association’s election held on March 5, 2026, in Abuja.
In an official signed statement, the General Secretary of CCAN, Peter Ireh, disclosed that the newly elected chairman described his emergence as the beginning of a new chapter for the association and expressed gratitude to members for the successful conduct of the election.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, Fifen thanked God and members of the association for their confidence in him, describing the election as a significant milestone for the body of journalists who report on crime and security issues across the country.
He also commended the immediate past executive members led by Sam Ogbeifun for their commitment and contributions to the growth of the association, noting that leadership often comes with challenges that may not be obvious to observers.
“It is easy to criticise leadership from afar, but once you assume responsibility, you realise that leadership requires sacrifice, patience and commitment. I appreciate the efforts of the immediate past executives who served this association diligently. They did their best and we will take from here to make sure we surpass their records,” he said.
Fifen emphasised that CCAN is more than a professional body, describing it as a close-knit community formed through years of collaboration among journalists covering the demanding crime and security beat.
“Many of us met while doing this job. We spend long hours together covering assignments and often see one another more than we see our families. This association is therefore not just an organisation, but a family bound by our shared commitment to journalism,” he stated.
The new chairman outlined two key priorities for his administration, improving members’ welfare and protecting the professional dignity of crime correspondents.
He stressed that welfare should not be limited to financial support but should also encompass emotional, psychological, spiritual and professional wellbeing.
“An association must prioritise the welfare of its members. That welfare includes psychological, emotional, spiritual and professional wellbeing. When members are supported, the association grows stronger,” he added.
Fifen also pledged to work towards ensuring that crime correspondents receive the respect and recognition they deserve from institutions and stakeholders within the security sector.
“Our dignity as journalists must be protected. When crime reporters speak or appear in professional spaces, they must be treated with respect. We must stand together to ensure our voices are heard and valued. What this means is that we must also conduct ourselves in ways we will be respected by newsmakers and the public,” he said.
Calling for unity among members, the chairman urged stakeholders within the association to support the new executive committee with advice, constructive criticism and collaboration to ensure the success of the administration.
“No leadership succeeds alone. The executives represent all of us, but we will need your guidance, your support and even your corrections when necessary so that together we can move this association forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the electoral committee, Jonas Ezeke, confirmed that the election into the seven executive positions of the association was conducted successfully in line with the committee’s mandate to ensure a credible, free and fair process.
Ezeke noted that the committee remained committed to transparency throughout the exercise and commended members for their cooperation.
“By the grace of God, we were able to conduct a credible election within the stipulated timeframe and declare the results successfully,” he said.
Having covered the police beat for more than 15 years, Ezeke added that the new leadership understands the challenges faced by crime correspondents and expressed confidence that the executive committee would work towards improving the welfare and professional conditions of members.
He also urged the newly elected executives to carefully assess the association’s existing structure and identify opportunities that would further strengthen the organisation.
“Leadership is critical to the progress of any organisation. When leadership gets it right, institutions grow and succeed. We believe the new executive committee will build on existing foundations and take CCAN to greater heights,” he added.
Members of the association expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in reforms that promote unity, professionalism and improved welfare for journalists covering Nigeria’s security and crime beats.
Other executives elected during the exercise include Oluwakemi Kindness of Democracy Radio as vice chairman, Peter Ireh of Radio Nigeria as general secretary, and Vincess Okushi as assistant secretary.
Also elected were Latifa Aremu of Galaxy Television as treasurer, Gbenga Omokhunu of The Nation Newspaper as financial secretary, and Ejike Ejike of Leadership Newspaper as welfare secretary.
