By Olawale Lamina
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, ha condemned in its entirety the treatments being meted out to its members by both the state and the non-state actors in the course of discharging their constitutional duties, covering the nationwide hardship protests in the country.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, the Union noted that, sequel to the protests being staged in many parts of the country on 1 and 2 August, journalists who went about doing their jobs were harassed and intimidated, apart from being dispossessed of their personal and official belongings.
The statement reads in part: “Unfortunately, the hydra headed monster of journalist intimidation, harassments and seizures 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 unacceptable 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.”
But the NUJ stated again that journalists will neither be cowed nor deterred from carrying out their responsibilities of engaging the society in their avowed commitment to continue to inform, enlighten and educate the citizens in pursuit of promoting the public good.
The NUJ therefore listed instances of unpalatable experiences it’s members were exposed to with regard to covering the ongoing strike, stating that, “The following are recorded incidences of Journalists’ intimidation and harassments across the various theatres of protest activities in the country:
- Lagos; Bernard Akede of News Central Television was interrupted and barred from conducting live interviews by police officers and LCC officials
- 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.
- Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch was arrested, beaten, and detained by police in Calabar before being released.
- 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.
- 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.
- Abuja; Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was brutally assaulted by police officers, who struck him with gun butts and batons, causing head injuries.
- 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.
- Kano; Ibrahim Isah of TVC News was physically attacked by armed hoodlums, sustaining hand injuries.
- 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.
- 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.
“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, seized, or damaged with a view to determine their value.”
In view of the enumerated turn of events, the leadership of the NUJ asked for unreserved public apology from the institutions responsible “as well as replacement of the lost and damaged assets of the journalists,” while making a demand for a thorough investigation into the incidents that brought about harassment of its members, with a view to punishing the culprits at the end of the day.
The statement concluded by noting that “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.”
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