The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun Point out Council has condemned the assault on the union’s secretary and a reporter with the Ogun State Tv, Bunmi Adigun, by some protection officers attached to the Governor of Osun Point out, Ademola Adeleke.
The protection officers had been reported to have attacked Adigun when carrying out his assignments throughout the 66th birthday of the Abepa of Joga-Orile, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, and conferment of chieftaincy title on Adeleke by the monarch on Friday.
Recounting his ordeals, Adigun reported, “Though the governor was amiable, but all the protection specifics have been unruly. They started off misbehaving anyhow promptly right after the governor arrived, pushing and harassing every single journalist, even these who came with other distinctive visitors from Osun Condition.
“They pushed my cameraman and other cameramen, I imagined that was sufficient until eventually they received to exactly where we have been standing, I was harassed, ashamed, and they nearly tore my clothing.”
The union, in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Wale Olanrewaju, and created offered to journalists on Saturday, explained the attack as unwarranted and an affront to push freedom.
The assertion partly study, “This reckless and reprehensible conduct toward a member of the push, who was simply just carrying out his professional duties, is completely unacceptable and are unable to be tolerated in a democratic society, granted that any form of assault on a journalist is an affront on the elementary principles of press independence and the ideal of citizens to obtain accurate and impartial details.
“The press must continue to be totally free, unshackled, and empowered to fulfil its vital function in culture.
“It is deeply regarding that people entrusted with the responsibility of upholding regulation and get would vacation resort to working with too much force and intimidation towards journalists. This sort of actions not only undermine the integrity of the media but also erode the trust among the authorities and the persons it serves.
“We urge Governor Adeleke to consider swift and decisive action to maintain the perpetrators of this attack accountable and to assure that measures are put in spot to safeguard the legal rights and protection of journalists as attacks on the press will not be tolerated in any form and that these dependable shall be made to face the total power of the law.
“As a unified human body, we stand in solidarity with our colleague and strongly desire an immediate community apology to our colleague and a determination from the Governor of Osun Condition to uphold the legal rights and protection of journalists.
“Any failure to tackle this make a difference with the urgency and seriousness it warrants will be considered as a disregard for the rule of regulation and an assault on press freedom”.
