Ngozi James
The International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned the repressive attacks meted on journalists with Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) by men of the Nigeria Police in Asaba, Delta State and the reported arrest of Omoyele Sowore, publisher od Sahara Reporters by the Nigeria Police Force.
The Centre said thevthree journalists: Comrade Eddy Akpati Ogude, Manager News & Current Affairs; Miss Eunice Emayazi and Austin Ogbotor, Camera man were monitoring long vehicular queues occasioned by the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the Northwest Filling Station, Mariam Banagida Way, Asaba when they were brutally assaulted according to reports from the desk of the press freedom monitor in the South-south.
The Newsnet stated that the two male journalists were held hostage (although they have now been released), while Miss Emayazi sustained body injuries with her phone and video camera destroyed by the men of the Nigeria Police Force, who were angered by the coverage of the shady activities at the filling station.
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC in a statement on Tuesday, noted with dismay the “unwelcome” conduct of the Nigeria Police in applying brute force against the journalists including a female one in the course of egitimate duty.
He demanded that the perpetrators of the dastard act be fished out, prosecuted and also made to settle the medical bills of the victims.
On “Sowore’s arrest, he said, ” the latest ordeal is another one too many and the security agents must learn that they can only take up any grievance against him in the law courts and so should desist from extra judicial conduct.”
Sowore who announced his release through his handle, as reported by Vanguard Newspapers dated February 25, 2022, claimed he was arrested because he allegedly àdefamed Ned Nwoko
Reacting to the announcement, Mr Arogundade asserted that any politician who feels he has been unduly misrepresented has a right of reply in the media or in the alternative seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction
IPC, therefore, urges NPF to desist from all actions that violates the human rights of journalists forthwith in the best interest of the nation.