…calls on NSCDC to sanction officers responsible, compensate Journalists
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has frowned against incessant attacks by security operatives on journalists.
Reacting on the heels of the recent attacks by the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Service (DSS) on three photojournalists, MRA therefore urged Federal Government to launch an independent investigation into the matter and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable and the photojournalists adequately compensated for the injuries suffered and equipment destroyed.
According to the MRA, the attacked photojournalists; Mr. Olu Aremo of the Leadership newspaper; Mr. Olatunji Obasa of The Punch newspaper; and Mr. Mudashiru Atanda of The Sun newspaper were beaten up on January 6, 2021 by the security officers at the headquarters of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja where they were covering the registration of Nigerians for the National Identification Number (NIN) following the ultimatum given to all Nigerians by the Federal Government to link to their mobile phone numbers to their NINs.
In a statement issued in Lagos by MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, he said, “I wonder how covering an exercise ordered by the government could have become an offence that could provoke such an attack on media professionals carrying out their legitimate duties.
“The photojournalists have a duty and a right to cover the exercise to enable both the government and other citizens know what is going on and evaluate the success or otherwise of the exercise. The attack on innocent journalists carrying out their legitimate duties was unwarranted, and constituted an unconscionable disregard for the rule of law.”
Longe also said “it is incomprehensible and unacceptable for officials and agents of the same security and law enforcement agencies to assault the very journalists that they are supposed to protect, especially where they have committed no offence.”
He therefore called on the Commandant of the NSCDC and the Director of DSS to carry out thorough and independent investigations into these attacks and ensure that the erring officers are prosecuted and pay the affected journalists adequate compensations for the injuries they suffered.
