Tom Zaneni, Abuja
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), on Friday, strongly condemned what it described as “the numerous incidents of attacks on journalists by security officials, particularly members of the Nigerian Police Force”, during the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country on Thursday.
The CJID said the attacks had been substantiated by multiple video and photographic evidence, which have now been documented by its Press Attack Tracker.
It stated that video clips it had received “show police officers physically assaulting, intimidating, and violating the rights of journalists in various parts of Nigeria.”
The Centre called on the police authorities to probe reported assaults on journalists and bring the erring officers to accountability.
Giving details of police brutality, the CJID said, “On Wednesday, August 31, 2024, News Central Television reporter Bernerd Akede was interrupted and harassed by police officers while reporting live at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos State, disrupting the television station’s broadcast.
“In Abuja, Premium Times reporter Yakubu Muhammed was assaulted by police officers despite wearing a press jacket and identifying himself as a journalist. He was struck on the head with the butt of a gun, causing a head injury, and his camera was damaged.
“In a separate incident, Jide Oyekunle, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents’ Chapel and a journalist with Daily Independent Newspaper, was arrested and roughly handled by officers of the FCT police command while covering a protest in Abuja. His phone was also confiscated. Mr. Oyekunle serves as the Chairman of the NUJ’s FCT Chapter.
Mr Oyekunle confirmed to the Network that the police seized him, took away his camera while he was covering the first day of the crisis in Abuja.
However, he said that the police did not assault further him aside grabbing him roughly by the belt.
CJID continues, “In Abuja, Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist with Punch Newspaper, was arrested by a police officer. Jaiyeola was subsequently handed over to members of the FCT Police Command, who detained him.
“Additionally, Mary Adeboye, a journalist with News Central Television, was tear-gassed by police officers while covering a protest in Abuja.
“Jonathan Ugbal, the Managing Editor of Cross River Watch Newspaper, was assaulted and arrested at the Mary Slessor Roundabout in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. He was taken to an undisclosed location and detained for several hours.
“In a separate incident in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, nine staff members of Radio Ndarason International (RNA), including the Editor-in-Chief, Head of Programmes, and Nigeria Office Director, were arrested.
“Their arrest and detention are believed to be linked to an earlier visit by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, who had visited the radio station that morning. The journalists are currently being held at the police headquarters in Maiduguri.
“The failure of the police to provide adequate security was starkly evident in the attacks on journalists by hoodlums who exploited the poor security situation to unleash mayhem on the media covering the protest.
“In Delta State, journalists faced assaults from pro-government protesters aiming to disrupt the demonstration. Notably, Guardian Newspaper reporter Monday Osayande and Punch Newspaper reporter Matthew Ochei were attacked while interviewing protesters.
“A TVC correspondent, Ibrahim Isah, was attacked by weapon-bearing hoodlums while covering a protest in Kano State, resulting in an injured hand. In a related incident, eleven journalists were attacked while traveling in a Channels TV vehicle. Ibrahim Isah sustained his injury while trying to escape the scene.”
The Centre added it was deeply troubling that, rather than ensuring the security of citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest, armed police officers have chosen to harass journalists who are merely fulfilling their duty to keep the public informed.
“Such attacks on journalists by the Nigeria Police Force not only violate the rule of law but also undermine the principles of democracy and abuse the fundamental rights of journalists.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to thoroughly investigate these reports and ensure accountability for all involved officers.
“Journalists are vital to sustaining a functional democracy and must be protected by the state and all stakeholders”, the CJID said.
