NUJ condemns police brutality, assault on journalists in Rivers

Credit: THISDAYLIVE

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has condemned the Rivers State Police Command over the brutality and assault of journalists who were covering recent peaceful protest in Rivers  State.

The police brutalized and deployed tear gas canisters against journalists who were covering peaceful protest by civil society groups in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The NUJ decried  “the assault on Charles Opurum of Channels Television; Allwell Ene of Naija FM; Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria/Info; Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM,” describing it as unprovoked, barbaric, inhuman and a violation of their rights.

NUJ State Chairman, Paul Bazia, and State Secretary, Ijeoma Tubosia, in a statement declared: “The four members of the NUJ were tear gassed by the police while carrying out their legitimate duties of covering a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt. Opurum was even arrested and detained for a period of time by the security agents.

“Security agency paid to protect lives and property could turn itself into a monster terrorising innocent citizens, particularly, journalists in the state.”

The NUJ, accordingly, , “demanded an unreserved apology from the Rivers State Police Command within 14 days for the assault against the journalists or risk its activities being boycotted by journalists in the state.”

The council also demanded that all the officials involved in the condemnable act be brought to book.

The NUJ cautioned that any further assault on journalists in the state would be vehemently resisted by the Union.

According to the statement, “NUJ as a watchdog of the society will not fold its arms and watch any arm of security agencies in the state descend to barbarism and brutalisation of innocent citizens, let alone media practitioners. Enough is enough.

“However, NUJ shall remain partners in the onerous task of contributing to the development of our country, while it believes that the police should not soil the subsisting relationship and partnership between them and the journalists in Rivers State.”