The Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN) has elected Festus Fifen as its new chairman, with a pledge to prioritise members’ welfare and uphold the professional dignity of crime reporters across the country.
Fifen emerged chairman following the association’s election held on March 5, 2026, in Abuja.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, the newly elected chairman described his emergence as the beginning of a new chapter for the association. He expressed gratitude to members for the successful conduct of the election and for the confidence reposed in the new leadership.
Fifen also commended the immediate past executive members led by Sam Ogbeifun for their dedication and contributions to the growth of the association, noting that leadership often comes with challenges that are not always visible from the outside.
According to him, it is easy to criticise leadership from afar, but assuming responsibility reveals that leadership requires sacrifice, patience and commitment.
He emphasised that CCAN is more than a professional body, describing the association as a family built through years of shared experiences covering the 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 said.
The new chairman outlined two key priorities for his administration—members’ welfare and the protection of journalists’ professional dignity.
He stressed that welfare goes beyond financial considerations and includes emotional, psychological, spiritual and professional support for members.
“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 stated.
Fifen also pledged to ensure 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,” he added.
Calling for unity and cooperation, the chairman urged members and stakeholders to support the new executive committee with advice, constructive criticism and collaboration.
“No leadership succeeds alone. The executives represent all of us, but we will need your guidance, support and even corrections when necessary so that together we can move this association forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, 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 its mandate to ensure a credible, free and fair process.
Ezeke said 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.
He expressed confidence that the new leadership would work toward improving the welfare and professional conditions of crime correspondents, noting that effective leadership is critical to the growth of any organisation.
Members of the association also expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in reforms that promote unity, professionalism and improved welfare for journalists covering Nigeria’s security sector.
Other executives elected alongside Fifen 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.
