Emmanuel Ukudolo l Wednesday, December 07, 2016
LAGOS – The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has protested the arrest and continued detention of Publisher of Policy and Lawmakers Magazine, Mr. Friday Ogungemi by operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and abduction of Controller News, Radio Benue, YUADOR TOR AGBIDYE.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Lehman, the union said the offence committed by Ogungemi was publishing an editorial titled, “Overzealous Chief of Staff acts Governor Extraordinaire’’.
The NUJ noted that his arrest at the order of Governor Yahaya Bello brings Nigeria closer to committee of African nations that shame the continent through their attacks on the media.
The NUJ noted that freedom of thought and opinion are precious human rights adding that to subvert it is to destroy all other freedoms which includes the right to seek and receive information.
It described such onslaught on the media as an anathema to democracy which the NUJ said should be condemned by all.
“Attacks on journalists and their equipment is criminal under international humanitarian law”, NUJ said.
While calling for immediate and unconditional release of Ogungemi, the NUJ said that in a democracy, politicians should be seen to be protecting all, not only the interest of those in authority.
“This makes the arrest and continued detention of this journalist unhealthy and injurious to the nation’s quest for genuine democracy”, the union said.
It also condemned the abduction of Controller News, Radio Benue, YUADOR TOR AGBIDYE, by gunmen who broke into her house.
NUJ said the development added another dimension to the problem of insecurity for journalists in Nigeria.
It called on the Federal Government to rise-up and curtail the rising wave of crime in Nigeria.
