The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has strongly condemned what it describes as “numerous incidents of attacks on journalists by security officials, particularly members of the Nigerian Police Force,” during the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country on Thursday.
The CJID stated on Friday that these attacks have been substantiated by multiple video and photographic pieces of evidence, which have now been documented by its Press Attack Tracker.
The CJID noted that video clips it received “show police officers physically assaulting, intimidating, and violating the rights of journalists in various parts of Nigeria.”
The Centre has called on the police authorities to investigate the reported assaults on journalists and hold the offending officers accountable.
Detailing instances of police brutality, the CJID reported, “On Wednesday, August 31, 2024, News Central Television reporter Bernerd Akede was interrupted and harassed by police officers while reporting live at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos State, disrupting the television station’s broadcast.
“In Abuja, Premium Times reporter Yakubu Muhammed was assaulted by police officers despite wearing a press jacket and identifying himself as a journalist. He was struck on the head with the butt of a gun, causing a head injury, and his camera was damaged.
“In a separate incident, Jide Oyekunle, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents’ Chapel and a journalist with Daily Independent Newspaper, was arrested and roughly handled by officers of the FCT Police Command while covering a protest in Abuja. His phone was also confiscated. Mr. Oyekunle serves as the Chairman of the NUJ’s FCT Chapter.
“Mr. Oyekunle confirmed to the Network that the police seized him, took away his camera while he was covering the first day of the crisis in Abuja. However, he said that the police did not further assault him aside from roughly grabbing him by the belt.
The CJID continued, “In Abuja, Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist with Punch Newspaper, was arrested by a police officer and subsequently handed over to members of the FCT Police Command, who detained him.
“Additionally, Mary Adeboye, a journalist with News Central Television, was tear-gassed by police officers while covering a protest in Abuja.
“Jonathan Ugbal, the Managing Editor of Cross River Watch Newspaper, was assaulted and arrested at the Mary Slessor Roundabout in Calabar, Cross River State. He was taken to an undisclosed location and detained for several hours.
“In a separate incident in Maiduguri, Borno State, nine staff members of Radio Ndarason International (RNA), including the Editor-in-Chief, Head of Programmes, and Nigeria Office Director, were arrested. Their arrest and detention are believed to be linked to an earlier visit by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, who had visited the radio station that morning. The journalists are currently being held at the police headquarters in Maiduguri.
“The failure of the police to provide adequate security was starkly evident in the attacks on journalists by hoodlums who exploited the poor security situation to unleash mayhem on the media covering the protest.
“In Delta State, journalists faced assaults from pro-government protesters aiming to disrupt the demonstration. Notably, Guardian Newspaper reporter Monday Osayande and Punch Newspaper reporter Matthew Ochei were attacked while interviewing protesters.
“A TVC correspondent, Ibrahim Isah, was attacked by weapon-bearing hoodlums while covering a protest in Kano State, resulting in an injured hand. In a related incident, eleven journalists were attacked while traveling in a Channels TV vehicle. Ibrahim Isah sustained his injury while trying to escape the scene.”
The Centre added that it is deeply troubling that, rather than ensuring the security of citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest, armed police officers have chosen to harass journalists who are merely fulfilling their duty to keep the public informed.
“Such attacks on journalists by the Nigerian Police Force not only violate the rule of law but also undermine the principles of democracy and abuse the fundamental rights of journalists.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to thoroughly investigate these reports and ensure accountability for all involved officers.
“Journalists are vital to sustaining a functional democracy and must be protected by the state and all stakeholders,” the CJID said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, has responded to a social media user on platform X (formerly Twitter), Harry, “@chiditweets042,” who accused him of planning mayhem in Abuja.
Harry had written on X: “Wike and the CP of FCT are planning mayhem and tagging it to Ireti Kingibe. Abuja people stay alert!”
In a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Commissioner of Police said, “The FCT Police Command is aware of a publication on X by one Harry, ‘@chiditweets042,’ alleging that the Commissioner of Police, FCT, is planning to unleash mayhem in FCT and supporting this claim with a picture of police equipment meant for deployment.
“Consequent upon this, the command wishes to debunk the allegation, labeling it as false, mischievous, and misleading. It is important to note that the primary assignment of the Commissioner of Police is to protect lives and property, and he has been doing so in line with the extant laws.
“CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, while reaffirming the command’s unflinching commitment to ensuring safety for all, urges residents to disregard the information and go about their lawful activities without fear, noting that the intention of the peddler of the publication is to mislead and cause apprehension among the populace.”
