The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos and the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) have Jointly condemned the attack on Journalists during the peaceful protest that turned violent in some states.
In a statement signed by Melody Akinjiyan, press freedom officer, IPC and Busola Ajibola, deputy director, Journalism Program, CJID respectively, the Organisations condemned the attacks on journalists and other media practitioners on day 1 of the nationwide protest by groups demanding an end to hardship inducing economic policies.
It is to be recalled that the #EndBadGovernance Protest also tagged ‘Hunger Protest’ began yesterday, August 1 and is promised to last till August 10, 2024.
IPI in its statement stated that “Information gathered by IPC’s journalists’ safety alert situation room revealed that a number of journalists and media professionals faced one form of attack or the other including physical assault, harassment, denial of access to cover the protest,”
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Some of the affected journalists were injured, arrested or had their working tools destroyed. The details of the incidents as documented by IPC’s Safety of Journalists Alert Desk include:
“Lagos State, Benard Akede of News Central Television was interrupted and harassed by Police officers and LCC officials who barred him and other journalists from interviewing anyone during a live broadcast. Kano State. Ibrahim Isah, TVC News Correspondent was physically assaulted by hoodlums who were with weapons while covering the protest in Kano. He sustained injuries on his hand.
It further added that a vehicle belonging to Channels Television and conveying about eleven (11) journalists which included TVC News Correspondent, Ibrahim Isah was vandalized. The journalists onboard were traumatized by the unfortunate incident.
In the FCT, Abuja, Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was attacked and injured by Police officers who hit him with the butt of their guns and their batons and caused injuries to his head while covering the protest in Abuja.
Cameras belonging to journalists were also destroyed by Police officers.
Others are Jide Oyekunle, a photojournalist with Daily Independent and Chairman of the NUJ, FCT Correspondent Chapel was arrested and his mobile phone seized by Police officers.
As well as Mary Adeboye of News Central Television who was affected by tear gas and thrown by Police officers while covering the protest in the FCT, Cross-River State among several others
The Press Freedom Officer of IPC, Melody Akinjiyan described the attacks as a troubling repeat of history stating that under no condition should journalists on legitimate duty be assaulted by law enforcement agencies and thugs.
“It is regrettable that the incidents were recorded despite calls by IPC and other media groups on stakeholders and security agencies to ensure a safe environment for journalists covering the protests”, she said.
She said “The rights of journalists to cover and report protests and other societal activities as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and various regulatory frameworks have not been respected as expected”
Meanwhile, the CJID strongly condemned the numerous incidents of attacks on journalists by security officials, particularly members of the Nigerian police force, stating the attacks had been substantiated by multiple video and pictorial evidence that has now been documented by their press attack tracker.
The statement stated that in video clips received by CJID, police officers were seen physically assaulting, intimidating, and violating the rights of journalists in different parts of Nigeria.
The statement stated that the failure of the police to provide adequate security was also evident in attacks on journalists by hoodlums who exploited the poor security situation to unleash mayhem on journalists covering the protest.
In Delta State, journalists were attacked by pro-government protesters who assaulted protesters to disrupt their demonstration. Some of the journalists who fell victim to this attack are Guardian Newspaper reporter Monday Osayande and Punch Newspaper reporter Matthew Ochei. They were both attacked while interviewing protesters.
A TVC correspondent was attacked by weapon-bearing hoodlums while covering the protest in Kano State, resulting in an injured hand.
About eleven journalists were also attacked in a Channels TV vehicle conveying, and in the process, TVC correspondent Ibrahim Isah was injured while trying to escape the scene.
“It is deeply troubling that, instead of providing security for citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest, members of the Nigerian police chose to harass journalists fulfilling their duty to keep the public informed.”
“The attacks on journalists by the Nigerian Police Force not only violate the rule of law but also affront the principles of democracy and abuse the fundamental rights of journalists” it stated
The CJID called on the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation into these reports and ensure that all involved police officers are held accountable adding that Journalists play a crucial role in sustaining a functional democracy and must be protected by the state and all stakeholders.
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