*’Journalist Suffered Injuries To Legs, Hands, Other Body Parts, Torn Clothes, Damaged Mobile Phone’
*Victim Works For A Govt-Owned Media House, Presented His IDs, Was Assaulted -NUJ States
*Union Says Will Not Condone Such Action Again
*Urges State Govt To Rein In, Educate Security Personnel On Constitutional Duties Of Journalists
By Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto
An angry Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, has condemned the alleged assault on its Secretary, Comrade Muhammad Nasir Bello, by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) attached to Sokoto State Government House.
Bello, who is a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was reportedly assaulted while covering a solidarity rally organised in support of President Bola Tinubu, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
The rally terminated at the Government House, where the journalist was allegedly attacked despite presenting his identification cards bearing the logos of NAN and NUJ.
In a press statement signed by the NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Usman Mohammed Binji, the union alleged that the security personnel physically assaulted Bello and removed him from the area designated for journalists at the gallery.
The statement further disclosed that the incident resulted in torn clothes, a damaged mobile phone and injuries to the journalist’s legs, hands and other parts of his body.
Describing the incident as unacceptable and disturbing, the union said the alleged assault constituted a serious violation of press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to carry out their professional duties without intimidation or harassment.
The NUJ stressed that journalists are neither political opponents nor participants in political rallies but professionals responsible for gathering and disseminating information in the public interest.
The union therefore called on the Sokoto State Government and relevant security authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.
It also demanded adequate medical attention for its Secretary, alongside appropriate compensation for the injuries sustained and damage to his property.
Furthermore, the union urged the state government to issue clear directives to security personnel attached to the Government House and other public institutions to respect journalists and provide them with a safe working environment.
The NUJ warned that it would not condone any act of violence, intimidation or harassment against journalists performing their lawful duties, irrespective of the political party or institution involved.
It reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom and democratic values, noting that any attack on a journalist carrying out a lawful assignment is an attack on the public’s right to know.
