Worried by the incessant attacks on journalists in Rivers State, the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has threatened to withdraw its services from the police and other organizations should the attack continued.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency state executive committee meeting of the Council.
According to the union having reviewed the political situation in Rivers State and the increasing attacks on journalists it was resolved as follows: Journalists are professionals carrying out their duties as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other international charters of which Nigeria is a signatory adding that journalists are not interested parties in the political crisis currently rocking the state, “We condemned the attack on the Channel TV crew and reporters on Sunday January 19th 2014 at Bori, headquarters of Khana LGA at the botched rally organized by the Save Rivers Movement, we recalled similar attack on journalists working with the TV continental, The Sun Newspaper, RSTV, Rhythm 93.7 FM among others.
The communiqué which was jointly signed by Mr. Opaka Dokubo, the chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley, stressed that the union finds the situation unacceptable and urged political parties, groups and their supporters to engage in their activities and leave journalists alone to practice their profession.
According to them, “we also condemned a situation where the police attack and also watch or stand by where journalists are being attacked by hoodlums.
The union called on police and other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all Nigerian citizens in the state irrespective of their political affiliations which is their primary role in the society and further called on the police and security agencies to ensure the protection of journalists operating in the state. ###
