Imo NUJ Condemns Physical Attacks Against Journalists, Demands Apology From IMHA, NSCDC

Imo NUJ Condemns Physical Attacks Against Journalists, Demands Apology From IMHA, NSCDC

By Niyi Busari

The Imo chapter of the National Union Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the physical attack on journalists and demanded apology from Imo State House of Assembly and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

It was alleged that two members of NUJ, Mr Ike Nwosu of the Eastern Lead Newspaper and Mr Ndubueze Nwokoma of the Newspoint were manhandled by aides to Hon Frank Ugboma over a report that did not go down well with the lawmaker.

In a press statement signed by Comrade Chris Akaraonyereads:

"The attention of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has been drawn to the physical assault and beating of our members -Mr Ike Nwosu of the Eastern Lead Newspaper and Mr Ndubueze Nwokoma of the Newspoint Chapel recently.

It has been alleged that aides to the member representing Oguta State Constituency, Hon. Frank Ugboma manhandled and inflicted bodily injuries to Ike Nwosu at the House of Assembly complex over a news report that did not go down well with the lawmaker.
Also, we have been briefed of the physical assault on Ndubueze Nwokeoma by a security personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly parking his car in a wrong place.
The Leadership of NUJ Imo State Council wishes to state as follows;
●That we condemn any physical assault on journalists, especially our members by security agents or overzealous aides of anybody no matter the level of provocation.
●That whoever is aggrieved as a result of a news report, should not take laws into his or her hands as the courts are there for them to seek redress.
●That we condemn the action of the NSCDC operative who allegedly hit Ndubueze Nwokeoma with the butt of his rifle. The Imo public still remember with pains, the gruesome killing of a 2019 Senatorial Candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Hon. Ndubuisi Emenike by a trigger happy operative of the NSCDC. We can only imagine what such unwarranted attack on an uunarmed journalist could have resulted to.
●The Imo NUJ Leadership is investigating the circumstances leading to these attacks which have increased of recent.
●The leadership and members of the NUJ in Imo State Council will no longer toralate any further attack on our members and other media practitioners no matter the level of grievances.
●In the interim, the leadership of the NSCDC and Imo State House of Assembly should take responsibility for the treatment of these our colleagues while we seek for peaceful resolutions of these issues.
●We also demand an unreserved apology for these physical assaultsse on our members.
● The public is warned to desist from attacking or intimidating journalists. Any more attack on journalists and members of Imo NUJ will attract the full wrath of the Union.
●Imo NUJ reiterates its warning to the public that any person, in doubt of the integrity of any journalist or may have been aggrieved by any news report, should liaise or report to the NUJ leadership.
●The NUJ has commenced a process to re - validate journalists and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Imo State.

Chairman

Comrade Juliet Dim
Secretary