The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Council has expressed concern over the spate of harassment of journalists by the security agencies espcially by the Nigerian police.
A press statement from. Ochiaka Ugwu and Òsárétín Òsádébàmwén, Secretary and
Chairman of Council respectively, noted that while the council “are not averse to the rights of citizens seeking redress over legitimate infringement on their rights, we believe that constitutional means should be strictly adhered to in doing this.”
The council said that the “condemnable case in point is the commando like raiding of the home of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online).
“The manner of arrest leaves much to be desired from a legitimate force of the State, the Nigeria Police which should have been civil instead of intimidating and forcefully whisking away Mr. Onuorah in a manner akin to kidnapping.”
The Statement further noted that the council “condemn this total abuse of power laced with intimidation and demand the immediate release of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor of the Conclave newspaper, an online platform”.
The statement described the former Bureau Chief of the Guardian Newspaper, and Managing Director of the Authority Newspaper as a thoroughbred professional, and insisted “that where any citizen or organisation believe he has a case to answer, then the constitutional path should be activated and followed, adding that “NUJ will never stop holding the government and its institutions accountable for the people.”
