Bad governance protest: International Press Institute cautions police on attacks on journalists

The International Press Institute (IPI has frowned at police attack on journalists covering the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance, stressing that it was the responsible of the police to protect them and not subject them to attack and molestation.

Penpushing the President of the Nigeria Chapter of the institution Musikilu Mojeed and Tobi Soniyi Legal Adviser made this clear in a statement on Friday, following attacks on the journalists by some overzealous policemen in some parts of the country

‘The Nigerian National Committee of International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has observed with concern a series of indiscriminate attacks on journalists covering the #ENDBADGOBERNANCE protests in the country’, the statement reads.

Penpushing further reports that the institute emphasized that it is the constitutional duty of journalists to cover the protest, and therefore they should not be turn to subject of attack while carrying out their duties

‘We hasten to remind law enforcement agencies that it is the constitutional duty of journalists to cover the protests. They should, therefore, not be attacked while carrying out their duties. While we recognise the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order, it is also the responsibility of journalists to inform the public of happenings in the country’, the statement added.

‘Law enforcement agencies are also duty bound to protect journalists. In this regard, we call on the police to investigate attacks on journalists covering the protests. We also demand that journalists be protected from attacks.

Penpushing also reports that the world body of journalists disclosed that reported attacks on journalists include: Benard Akede of News Central Television who was allegedly interrupted and harassed by police officers who barred him and other journalists from interviewing anyone during a live broadcast in Lagos. State

The statement added that similarly in Kano, a vehicle belonging to Channels Television and conveying about eleven journalists was vandalized, stating that the journalists were traumatised, and one of them, Ibrahim Isah, of TVC was assaulted.

‘Also, in Kano, another vehicle belonging to Premier Radio was also attacked. A car belonging to Cool/Wazobia/Arewa FM Kano was also not spared. In Abuja, the nation’s capital, 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’.

‘Cameras belonging to journalists were also destroyed by Police officers. Jide Oyekunle, a photojournalist with Daily Independent and Chairman of FCT Correspondent Chapel of the NUJ, was arrested and his mobile telephone seized by Police officers. These are in addition to journalists being teargassed alongside other protesters’, the statement emphasised.

Penpushing reports that the International Press Institute (IPI, however, called on heads of security agencies to instruct their operatives to stop further attacks on journalists, declaring that all culpable law enforcement officers will be held to account.

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