The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory Council has called on the Department of State Service (DSS) to stop the harassment of Journalists.
This is contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja, jointly signed by the Chairman of Council, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche and the Secretary, Mr Ochiaka Ugwu respectively.
They noted that it has become habitual for operatives of DSS and other security agencies to pick at journalists who are carrying out their constitutional duties.
The union called for an immediate end to the use of excessive force against journalists and media workers in general.
This call is coming on the heels of Monday’s unwarranted physical harassment and assault of a photojournalist with the Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Oluwagbemiga Olamikan, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“It is unfortunate that in recent time, violence against journalists has increased with impunity.
They face harassment and arbitrary detention. “It is worrisome that this is happening exactly one month after the NUJ launched a Five-Year-Review on press freedom in Nigeria (2016 to 2021).
The report indicted state actors who are in the habit of trying to gag the press.
“Council had previously reported on the disproportionate use of force by the state actors against journalists during coverage, preventing audio and visual recordings of protests and public demonstrations.
“Journalists are responsible for providing the public with objective news and any attempt to prevent them from covering public events is a clear violation of the citizen’s right to access information,” it said.
The Union called on relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to protect and ensure journalists’ safety. According to them, the use of excessive force by security operatives against Journalists who are exercising their constitutional duties cannot be met with constant intimidation.
The NUJ called on the DSS and other security agencies to stop their arbitral actions against journalists, because it wiould further contribute to Nigeria’s poor ranking on the press freedom index.
