1 week Ago By Dennis Naku
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, has condemned in strong terms the inhuman treatment meted out on some of its members by men of the State Police Command on Monday. This is as the union issued a 14-day ultimatum for the command to tender an unreserved apology for the action of its men or risk a boycott of its activities by newsmen in the state. The PUNCH reports that operatives of the state police command fired teargas at members of the Take-it-back movement and other civil society groups calling for the repeal of the Cyber Crime Act and an end to the emergency rule in the state, during a protest in Port Harcourt on Monday.
During the protest, some journalists were assaulted with their working tools seized, while a reporter sustained injury while running to prevent the policemen from seizing his mobile phone. The NUJ, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, signed by the State NUJ Chairman, Paul Bazia and Secretary, Ijeoma Tubosia, described the action of the police as inhuman and a violation of its members’ rights. The council also demanded that the erring policemen must be identified and punished, to deter such unruly behaviour in the future.
The statement read: “The union described 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 as unprovoked, barbaric, inhuman and a violation of their rights. Related News PUNCH Kano reporter dies as gov, NUJ condole family Police fire tear gas as Take-It-Back protesters in Rivers flee US law professor asks Tinubu to reverse Rivers emergency rule “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. Mr Opurum was even arrested and detained by the security agents.
“The NUJ regrets that a security agency paid to protect lives and property could turn itself into a monster terrorising innocent citizens, particularly journalists in the state.” “The NUJ, therefore, demands 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 warned that any further assault on journalists in the state would be resisted by the NUJ.
“NUJ as a watchdog of 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,” the statement added. The union appealed to its members to be peaceful and calm, expressing optimism that the police authorities would look into the matter.
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