Felix Olunkwa, Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abia State, has attributed his rescue from kidnappers to the wide publicity given to his case by journalists. Olunkwa was kidnapped in 2024 and was later rescued after the NUJ and other media practitioners gave his case wide coverage.
The Role of Journalists in Olunkwa's Rescue
Olunkwa expressed his gratitude to the journalists for their efforts in securing his release. He stated that the sustained publicity and outreach to the state government and other relevant bodies helped to save him from dying in captivity. "When I was kidnapped, you did not keep quiet, you gave wide publicity and you did all you could do to reach out to the State government for my rescue," he said.
Partnership Between NUJ and NIPR
Olunkwa also promised a sustained partnership between the NUJ and NIPR under his watch. He commended the executive members of Abia NUJ for their efforts in the state. The Chairman of NUJ, Abia State Council, Chidi Asonye, thanked God for rescuing Olunkwa from captivity and reiterated that journalists would continue to play their roles in engendering a better society.
Conclusion
The rescue of Olunkwa highlights the importance of media coverage in bringing attention to cases of kidnapping and other crimes. The partnership between the NUJ and NIPR is expected to promote collaboration and mutual understanding between journalists and public relations practitioners in Abia State [1].
