COVID-19 Lockdown: Delta NUJ Condemns Incessant Attack On Journalists

The Delta State Council of the NIGERIA Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Thursday, condemned in a strong terms incessant attacks on journalists covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown in the state.

BIGPEN reports that the reaction followed the Wednesday, April 15, latest attack on some journalists from the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Warri, who were on their regular routine to monitor compliance of the lockdown as well as social distancing at the Effurun market.

The DBS Warri team, led by a deputy general manager, Linus Chima, was attacked for covering scenes of clear violation of the social distancing directive by both the federal and state governments.

A similar assault was melted on a photo journalist with the Pointer newspaper, Norbert Amede, who was brutally attacked by policemen in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

The attack left Amede physically disfigured and hospitalized for days.

Recalls that the Chairman of the State Council of NUJ, Michael Ikeogwu and a reporter with Daily Post newspapers were recently harassed and manhandled in Effurun by officials of the state environmental taskforce.

Reacting to these attacks on journalists, Delta NUJ Council, says it is becoming disheartening that media practitioners, in the course of carrying out their constitutional responsibility, have unfortunately, turned targets for attacks by members of the public, particularly security agencies and governmental bodies in the State.

A statement signed by the council chairman, Michael Ikeogwu and Secretary, Churchill Oyowe, said “several reports of harassment and intimidation of media practitioners by security agencies and hired thugs of government functionaries across the state have been incidented in our secretariat.

“We view this latest attack and previous ones as barbaric in an era where democratic tenets and freedom of the press are expected to be held in high esteem.

“NUJ Delta State Council hereby, aligns with the earlier call by the DBS Chapter of NUJ and RATTAWU call on the Chairman of Uvwie Local Givernment Council, Mr. Ramson Onoyake to apologise to NUJ as well as arrest, interrogate and prosecute the team that attacked the DBS crew or face imminent boycott of coverage of programmes and activities within Uvwie Local Government Area.

“We recall that in the wake of the lockdown, the media were among those exempted from movement restrictions. This is because of the vital role the media, like other critical sectors, play in the developmental advancement of society.

“Sadly, the leverage of the media to operate responsibly is daily curtailed and threatened by security agents and government officials who have skeletons to cover.

We wish to state that the media will not be daunted in the face of the unfriendly atmosphere some security agencies and government officials have put in place.

Nevertheless, we wish to remind governments at all levels in the state of their responsibility to protect the lives of the citizens, including media practitioners. We have not recorded any death among our folds. At the rate these abusers of the media are going, we might soon register.

This is why the authorities must stand up to their responsibilities and protect the sanctity of the freedom of the press as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

We however call on our members to be law abiding and continue to go about their duties responsibly while we call on authorities in the local, state and federal governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide of attacks on media personnel.

For the avoidance of doubt, our governmental bodies should be reminded that these same media they are treating with disdain were at the forefront of the fight for the democracy these levels of government are presenting savouring. The media deserve a better deal.

In conclusion, we may be left with the option of a total blackout of coverage of the lock down order if the needless attacks on our highly esteemed members continues”.