Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, August 31, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian Union of Journalist(NUJ) on Thursday embarked on a rally nationwide to protest killing, brutalisation, harassment and illegal detention of journalists without trial under the current administration.
In Lagos, the protest was led by Chairman NUJ, Lagos, Dr. Qasim Akinreti. Armed with placards, the journalists reeled out thier displeasure about what is happening to their colleagues as they marched from Iyalla in Alausa, through Kafi Street to Obafemi Awolowo Way down to the Lagos State Government House, Alausa. Officials of the Lagos State Government were not available to receive the the NUJ delegation as senior officials were said to have left the office despite official notification.
They armed themselves with placards wherein they incribed messages such as ” A kingdom without free press is a country in darkness; stop the killing of journalists; No to assaults, molestation, detention, killing of journalists; accord journalists the respect they deserve among others.
At least three journalists have been killed in 2017. They are Famous Giobaro, a journalist with Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1 who was killed suspected hired assassins on April 16. In addition, Samuel Nweze, Publisher of the People’s Leader was killed by gunmen in front of his office in Abakaliki on June 2, while Lawrence Okojie of Nigerian Television Authority, Benin, was killed while returning from work on July 8.
Other journalists were either harassed or brutalised on official duty in 2017. The list includes Ibraheema Yakubu brutalised by Police, Timothy Abor, Toba Adedeji were brutalised by DSS, Taye Elebiyo Eden, Jacob Onjewu Dickson were also brutalised by security operatives. Othes are Jerry Edoho of Ibom Nation, Akwa Ibom State was arrested by on January 6, Nsebiet John of The Ink, Akwa-Ibom State was detained overnight, arraigned and granted bail to the sum of N250,000 on January 6, Charles Otu of the Conscience Newspaper was beaten by political thugs in Abakaliki on June 2.
Amadin Uyi of Silverbird Television, Abuja was brutalised by police officeers during a protest by Ourmumudondo group at Unity Fountain in Abuja on August 8, Segun Salami of Channels Television, Kogi was battered by security personnel attached to the Kogi State Government House on August 28. Besides, Wale Odunsi, an editor with Daily Post (online publication)was also attacked by security operatives at Kogi State Government House on October 11, while Ikechukwu Ibe of the Daily Trust Newspapers was brutalised by an army officer at Jabi area of Abuja on October 26.
Addressing journalists behind the heavily barricaded Lagos State Government House, Alausa, Akinreti said journalist embarked on the rally nationwide to protest the killing of journalists, brutalisation and harrassement of media men in their official duty.
He said alot of journalists have been killed in the quest of performing their constitutional responsibility which is to hold government accountable to the people who elected them.
The security agencies and journalists are working for the good of the people and the good of the nation.So there is a need for us to understand our roles better and then there will be a synergy. What we are proposing is that let the journalists and security agencies be having constant dialogue so that they can understand our role. There are so many occasion that we stood up for the rights of policemen. We stand up for the rights of the military. As the miilitary are busy attacking insurgency in Sambisa, journalsits are carried along, we are the ones that put them on the frontline, we are the ones that report what is happening on the frontline. So it requires that our roles need to be apprecatied. We believe that if there is synergy our roles will be appreciated better”, he said.
