Haressment & Assault On Journalists:

Journalists in Uyo on peaceful protest at gate of govt. House

*NUJ calls for prosecution of Security Operatives

*Threatens Total Boycott of Govt. events if…

Following the cruel and brutal handling of Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim a correspondent of The Nation newspaper on December 9, 2012 by State Security Service (SSS) operatives, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) leadership led a public peaceful protest to Government House on Tuesday Dec. 11,2012 calling  for the security operatives (Charles Anyanwu and Shola Aguda) to be prosecuted for flagrant abuse of the fundamental human rights of one of their own. The NUJ also threaten a total boycott of “all government events if it continue to suffer such indignities” any longer.

In a letter of protest from the NUJ read by its State Chairman, Comrade Joe Effiong to the Governor’s representative (Mr. Aniekan Umanah, Information and Communications Commissioner), security operatives, apart from incessant harassment and assault  on Journalists detailed to cover State events had unabatedly harassed Journalists during the State government/NLC stakeholders meeting, the Guild of Editors of Nigeria’s Conference, swearing-in of Commissioners and Local government Chairmen, Local government elections and the presidential visit.

The State Chairman of the NUJ said Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim was brutally assaulted by Charles Anyanwu and Shola Aguda on Sunday December 9, 2012 at Banquet Hall grounds, Government House, Uyo, Venue of the thanksgiving service to mark the State governor’s 50^th birthday. 

Describing the pitiful state at which the operatives subjected the helpless reporter to, Comrade  Effiong said, “Mr. Ibrahim was seized by the throat, flung to the ground and trampled upon by the said SSS operatives until he passed into Coma and narrowly escaped being lynched as the intervention of the Chief Press Secretary (Pastor Anietie Ukpe) to the State Governor did not help matters.

 Mr. Effiong who said the Press was not a threat to security but has a sacred duty of purveying information for public good, frowned seriously on the over-zealousness exhibited by some security operatives at the State events.

Earlier, on December 10, 2012, the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ had, through a letter signed by Mr. B. E. Bassey, the Chapel’s Secretary, complained to the State leadership of the NUJ of how their member was embarrassed appealing for the kind intervention of the State body of the Union to protect them while performing their lawful duty.

The public protest which was joined by some members of the state Civil Liberties Organizations (CLO) was staged by journalists from independent national/State-based print and electronic media houses. It started at the Correspondent’s Chapel office and terminated at Government House main gate at Wellington Bassey Way end. Some of the placards carried by the protesters bore the following (but not limited to these) messages; “SSS is a threat to Press freedom in Akwa Ibom”;  “Akpabio, call your Security men to order”; “Operatives stop assaulting Journalists”; “Akpabio’s birthday gift to Journalists was brutality”, etc.

Earlier, the Chairman had stated that Journalists who came out to cover the peaceful protest by the past Public office  holders were seriously beaten. Mr Effiong said the Press “is the most civil in the county and has never been involved in robbery or kidnapping and could not have posed threat to any government event”. He said that the governor as the Chief Security Officer in the State has the right to get involve and resolve any security breaches and issues.

Speaking to the visibly angry and protesting Journalists Mr. Aniekan Umanah said the actions of the Journalists were civil and peaceful and apologized on behalf of the State government for whatever assault was meted on the person of The Nation newspaper’s Correspondent by the security operatives. He said he was reached on phone by the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel as well as the NUJ State Chairman and that the State Director of SSS was put on the know of the incidence. He assured that the State Director would take appropriate action to address the problem as he received the complaint officially.

Mr. Umanah said nothing of harm to any Journalist was intended during the Governor’s birthday but assured that all intriguing issues would be resolved. He said that since Journalists have their lawful duties to go about peacefully  it was not normal for them to be disturbed just as the security operatives would not disturb others who have lawful duties to do.