By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) has condemned the numerous incidents of attacks on journalists by security officials, particularly members of the Nigerian police force, during the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
A statement dated 1st August 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director, Journalism Program of the CJID, Busola Ajibola, asserted that the attacks have been substantiated by multiple video and pictorial evidence that have now been documented by our press attack tracker.
According to the centre “In video clips received by CJID, police officers were seen physically assaulting, intimidating, and violating the rights of journalists in different parts of Nigeria.
“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 live broadcast”, it stated.
In Abuja, Premium Times reporter Yakubu Muhammed was assaulted by police officers despite wearing a press jacket and identifying himself as a journalist. Yakubu was struck with the butt of a gun, resulting in a head injury, and his camera was damaged.
“A journalist with Daily Independent Newspaper, Jide Oyekunle was arrested, rough handled and his phone confiscated by officers of the FCT police command while covering the protest in Abuja. Mr Oyekunle is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, FCT Chapter.
“Also in Abuja, Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist with Punch Newspaper, was arrested by a police officer attached to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Jaiyeola was handed over to members of the FCT Police Command, who detained him.
“News Central Television journalist, Mary Adeboye was tear gased by police officers while covering the protest in Abuja.
“Jonathan Ugbal, the Managing Editor of Cross River Watch Newspaper, was assaulted and arrested at the Mary Slessor roundabout area of Calabar, the Cross River state capital. He was taken to an undisclosed location where he was detained for several hours.
“In Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, 9 staff members of Radio Ndarason International (RNA) including the Editor in Chief, Head of Programmes and the Nigeria Office Director were also arrested.
“Their arrest and detainment are believed to be connected to an earlier visit by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security who was at the radio station earlier this morning. The journalists are now being detained at the police headquarters in Maiduguri”, it added.
It also noted 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 with the aim of disrupting their demonstration, it stated.
“Some of the journalists that 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”, CJID lamented.
The centre stressed that “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”.
CJID therefore 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.
