Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has condemned the attack on some journalists by persons suspected to be hoodlums.
The Union in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Stanley Job Stanley and Secretary, Ike Wigodo described the attack on it’s members as unfortunate, barbaric and criminal.
Information available to PhSpectator had it that nine journalists reporting for different media organisations in the state including Rhythm FM, RSTV, SweetCrude, Sahara Reporters, Wish FM, Today FM and Arise TV, were attacked by hoodlums and allegedly supervised by the Anti-Cultism Squad of the Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at the new airport road, Rumuagholu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area where they had gone for a press briefing.
The statement while noting that the attack on the nine journalists by hoodlums before the very eyes of security agents portends ominous signal to the safety and security of lives, also warned “that under no circumstance should Journalists on legitimate duties be attacked by anybody.
“The Journalists were allegedly attacked, beaten and wounded, while their gadgets, monies and other properties were carted away by the arm-bearing hoodlums”.
It further revealed that items looted include; “Nine smart phones, two cameras, one HDV Soni and Canon and their accessories, audio recorder, wrist watches, two medicated eye glasses as well as physical cash.
“The Council frowns at the arrest and detention of two of the Journalists, Uchendu Ejiowhor of Today FM and Aham Chijioke of Sahara Reporters by the anti-cultism squad only to be later released on the intervention of the NUJ leadership.
“We wonder why the anti-cultism squad of the Rivers State Police Command would arrest and detain Journalists who were attacked, beaten and wounded by hoodlums, instead of protecting them, while allowing the hoodlums to have a filled day. This is strange.
“We had expected the security agents to rise in defence of the nine journalists at the scene of the attack, arrest and prosecute the hoodlums. Unfortunately, the reverse was the case”, the statement stated.
“Any further assault on Journalists in the State either by security agents or hoodlums would be vehemently resisted by the NUJ.
The NUJ, therefore, appealed to the Rivers State Police Command to always defend and protect Journalists on lawful duties, while also ensuring that the hoodlums involved in the barbaric attack are fished out for prosecution.
