₦airaland Forum

The Federal Capital Territory FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ has condemned in strong terms the unlawful arrest and assault of an Agence France-Presse AFP journalist, Mr. John Okunyomih, by security operatives during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, described the arrest and harassment of the journalist as “a gross violation of press freedom and an affront to democratic principles.”

Vanguard gathered that a car belonging to another journalist with Business Day newspaper, Tony Ailemen was damaged when a policeman directly Aimed at his car and fired a teargas canister.

“They destroyed the back shield of my car. They actually fired teargas directly at my car”, he said in a massage posted to the official NUJ platform.

On his part, Okunyomih was reportedly manhandled by armed soldiers and policemen who were deployed to disperse protesters demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The security agents also damaged his professional camera and other equipment while he was covering the protest near the Unity Fountain.

The statement demanded an immediate investigation into the incident, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Dantawaye Miller to identify and sanction the officers responsible for the assault.

“The harassment of journalists performing their legitimate duty is unacceptable. Security agents must be reminded that journalists are not enemies of the state but partners in nation-building,” The Statement said.

The Council further urged the authorities to replace the journalist’s damaged camera and other work tools, stressing that such compensation would serve as a deterrent against future attacks on media professionals.

temitope27:
They should be put in jail, why protesting for the release of a terrorist 😏

Adesina18111:
Did you read at all or you are blind? When did Journalists become protesters to you? They were only doing their job. Sentiment has eaten deep into your brain

Adesina18111:
Did you read at all or you are blind? When did Journalists become protesters to you? They were only doing their job. Sentiment has eaten deep into your brain

chiagozien:
How do you want him to see when hatred for Mazi Nnamdi kanu and Igbos have blinded him.





It's called blind supporters of evil.

temitope27:
senseless people supporting each other, see how they are twisting my statement, why are you not out protesting, cowards cowards cowards

temitope27:
They should be put in jail, why protesting for the release of a terrorist 😏

Chibuzoc:
In the jungle called nigeria, unarmed protesters are seen as a threat but armed terrorists are offered peace talks.

zoedew:
What temerity! Which legitimacy of duty is the journalist talking about? The legitimacy of journalistic duty does not exit to restricted areas! Freedom of movement does not extend to restricted areas. Go there and you will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. Rabble rousers whether lawyers or journalists will be arrested! Sowore’s wife and children are safely settled in U.S.A. while he shouts “Free Nnamdi Kanu” here with the misguided children of careless parents! Why did he not wait to be arrested! Sowore fled!

temitope27:
They should be put in jail, why protesting for the release of a terrorist 😏

temitope27:
They should be put in jail, why protesting for the release of a terrorist 😏

Smartcitizen:
The way our brothers from South West carry this issue for head is just alarming o!

What is really eating them up over this Nnamdi Kanu issue?

Nawaoo!

temitope27:
so you're not alive when that criminal is telling his puppet to destroy our land😏

temitope27:
They should be put in jail, why protesting for the release of a terrorist 😏

nigeriansamurai:
you no see say terrorist hold gun, that makes them and security agencies "brother in arms"