The leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (Abuja Council) has raised alarm against attacks on innocent media practitioners even as the body reminded security personnel that journalists are not the causes of hunger and hardship neither are they the originators of the ongoing protest.
The warning became imperative following reports of daily harassment and arrest of media practitioners by security personnel who have abandoned their main duties and are focusing their attacks on journalists.
The National Secretary, NUJ National Secretariat, Abuja, Achike Chude, sounding the warning, said numbers of Journalists have been harassed eventually arrested for doing their legitimate duty.
Chude, pointed out that:- following series of protests that rocked many parts of the country on Thursday and Friday, 1st and 2nd of August 2024, Nigerian journalists in their numbers went out as required by the demands of the profession to cover the events.
Unfortunately, the hydra headed monster of journalist intimidation, harassments and siezures of both official and personal assets of members of the press reared its ugly head once more. These acts were carried out by the state and non-state actors.
This sordid and unnaceptable state of affairs, especially those perpetrated by state actors is happening in spite of various conscious efforts by the NUJ to engage government officials and security forces to address the anti democratic behaviours by those saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order.
According to Chude, “We want to assure Nigerians and the authorities, that journalists will neither be cowed nor deterred from carrying out their responsibilities of engaging the society with a view of informing, enlightening and educating the citizens for the purpose of promoting the public good.”
The following are recorded incidences of Journalists’ intimidation and harassments across the various theatres of protest activities in the country:
1. Lagos; Bernard Akede of News Central Television was interrupted and barred from conducting live interviews by police officers and LCC officials
2. Calabar, Cross River State; hoodlums attacked journalists, leaving Nigerian Tribune reporter Joseph Abasi-Abasi with severe injuries. The assailants targeted a bus belonging to the NUJ, which was carrying food supplies to the Ernest Etim Press Centre.
3. Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch was arrested, beaten, and detained by police in Calabar before being released.
4. Abuja; Daily Independent photojournalist Jide Oyekunle was unlawfully arrested and had his mobile phone confiscated by police officers while covering protests. He was only released following spontaneous protest by other journalists.
5. Abuja; Olukayode Jayeola, a photojournalist with The PUNCH Newspaper, was arrested by police while covering the protest at Eagle Square. His camera, phones, including an M11, and other personal belongings were confiscated by security operatives.
6. Abuja; Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was brutally assaulted by police officers, who struck him with gun butts and batons, causing head injuries.
7. Mary Adeboye, a journalist with News Central Television, was exposed to teargas fired by police officers while reporting on the protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Also, Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was attacked and injured by Police officers who allegedly hit him with the butt of their guns and their batons and caused injuries to his head while covering the protest. Cameras belonging to journalists were also destroyed by Police officers.
8. Kano; Ibrahim Isah of TVC News was physically attacked by armed hoodlums, sustaining hand injuries.
9. In Delta State, some journalists came under attack by counter-protesters, allegedly supporting the government, while covering the demonstration. Prince Amour Udemude, an investigative journalist, Matthew Ochei of Punch Newspaper, Monday Osayande of Guardian Newspaper, and Lucy, a reporter with Pointer, were assaulted and had their equipment destroyed.
10. Nine Radio Ndarason Internationale staff members were arrested at RNI offices in Maiduguri as they were reporting on the protests.
These are just some of the incidences that have reached us.
Therefore NUJ Secretary explained that “We are currently investigating this unwholesome and troublesome assault on the profession, and compiling a list of official and personal assets of journalists that were either lost, siezed, or damaged with a view to determine their value.
“We expect nothing less than public apology from the institutions responsible as well as replacement of the lost and damaged assets of the journalists.”
Furthermore NUJ scribe stated that, “we call for a thorough investigation into these incidences, with a view to punishing the culprits.
“Nigeria is supposed to be a country of law and order. We expect no less in terms of professional conducts from officials that are being maintained with state resources.”
