By IFEOMA IKEM

THE Nigerian Journalists Safety Initiative (NJSI) was said to have recorded 37 cases of assault, abuse and related matter against journalists between May to September 2016 in both print and electronic media in Nigeria.

Speaking at the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos, in commemoration of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in Nigeria, 10 out of 37 assaulted journalists spoke out.

Safety Alert Desk officer, Melody Akinjiyan, said that getting the victim to report it was a major challenge as many refused to give details of how they have been attacked.

The IPC Director, Lanre Arogundade, observed in his remarks that it was well known fact that many journalists have suffered violations of their rights in the cause of their duties.
Speaking further, Arogundade advised on the importance of speaking out as statistics of assaulted persons indicate that only 1% speak out.

Lagos state police spokesperson, Superintendent Dolapo Badmus, stated some necessary steps a trained journalist should take before commencing any investigation because law enforcement agencies and the media are always on frontier on any crisis.

Speaking of the role of the state government in ensuring the protection of the rights and safety of journalists, added that “it is our duty as a force to protect everyone, we know that journalists are being attacked or assaulted.

She explained that it became obvious that many of us would go to a place you know is not safe without letting the authority know you are going to a place for investigation. It is very wrong for someone that have been attacked not to report immediately to the nearest police until when the attackers has escaped before reporting the matter.

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs Funke Egbemode represent by the publicity secretary, Mr Ken Ugbechie, noted that journalists have be suffered attacks in the past and safety of journalism should be protected. “We need not hide our own, let it be on front page of a newspaper not inside,” she added.