The Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned in the strongest terms the attack by gun men on some journalists who were covering the Lagos State rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
It was reported that those that were affected by this attack were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.
In press statement issued by the National Secretary of the Union, Shuaibu Usman Leman, NUJ described the attack as unwarranted and bad trend for the nation’s democracy.
The statement reads, “We regret that in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, journalists take great personal and professional risks to collect, process and disseminate news and information to over 100 million citizens in 36 States and the FCT and beyond.
“But sadly, being a journalist today can often be a deadly pursuit, particularly for those covering conflict and other dangerous assignments. Conflict areas and post-conflict areas are predominantly dangerous environments for journalists”.
Here is the full text of Press Statement:
MEDIA RELEASE
Stop the impunity against Journalists
The Nigeria Union of Journalists condemns in the strongest terms the attack by gun men on some journalists who were covering the Lagos State rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
It was reported that those that were affected by this attack were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.
We regret that n Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, journalists take great personal and professional risks to collect, process and disseminate news and information to over 100 million citizens in 36 States and the FCT and beyond. But sadly, being a journalist today can often be a deadly pursuit, particularly for those covering conflict and other dangerous assignments. Conflict areas and post-conflict areas are predominantly dangerous environments for journalists.
Other dangerous assignments include investigation of corruption cases, coverage of political activities and elections.
The number of journalists that suffer various acts of impunity across the country and attacks on media equipment and facilities daily is on the increase and this poses great danger to democracy.
We particularly appeal to the Federal Government and all States of the Federation, to take effective measures for better protection of journalists in their assignments.
Shuaibu Usman Leman
Walin Shadalafiya
National Secretary, NUJ
08-01-2019.
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