The Gombe State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has condemned the harassment and unlawful detention of two journalists by politically sponsored hoodlums and police operatives in the state.
The union, in a statement, said Chika Francis Udenkwo of African Independent Television (AIT) and Joseph Atabo of Blueprint Newspaper were on August 30, 2022, beaten by suspected political thugs in the course of their duty. The statement was jointly signed by Sa’idu Bappa Malala and Danjuma Kala, the Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
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After their ordeals with hoodlums, Udenkwo and Atabo were handed over to Pantami Divisional Police Station, where they were detained for over two hours.
The statement read in part: “We want to state clearly that the Police violate the right of our practising journalists in the state to exercise their freedom in line with the guiding principles and ethics of the profession.
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“NUJ, therefore, condemned the act, and called on the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Ishila Babaita, to tender an unreserved apology to the affected members and the union at large to forestall the reoccurrence of such incident between the police and the media practitioners in the state.”
The union also called on security agents, political parties and the general public to see journalists as partners in the progress and development of the state. Similarly, NUJ urged the journalists to remain calm over the incident and continue with their routine assignments.
