The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute-IPI Nigeria, has expressed serious concern over reports of invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna by a contingent of heavily armed personnel of the Nigeria police.
The IPI while condemning in strong terms the invasion, cautioned the police to stop meddling in civil cases, stressing that invading media houses in gestapo style is a stark reminder of what the media suffered during the military era.
The Institute in a statement jointly signed by Ahmed Shekarawu and Tobi Soniyi, Secretary and Legal Adviser respectively stated anyone who is aggrieved by a report aired on television or radio stations should approach the court for redress.
IPI Nigeria National Committee stated that it had hoped that the appointment of Mr Tunji Disu as Inspector General of Police would usher in a new era of respect for human rights and press freedom.
It stated; “However, this latest invasion of a media house in Kaduna has shown that it is a forlorn hope. Journalists and practitioners in the Media across the country are therefore advised to prepare and wake up to a new wave of suppression of press freedom”.
IPI said that it believes that it is not too late for the Inspector General of Police to redeem himself by ensuring that the police officer who ordered the invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna is identified and punished for ordering an illegal operation.
It therefore tasked IGP Disu to issue an advisory to all police formations to steer clear of civil cases and to stop allowing themselves to be used as weapons to terrorise civilians.
According to IPI; “Those who carried out the invasion should also be apprehended and reprimanded for carrying out an illegal duty.
“For the umpteenth time, it bears repeating to say that a lack of accountability is the reason police men continue to trample on people’s rights.
“The strongest weapon against reckless violation of people’s rights and media freedom by police officers is prompt identification and punishment of erring officers,” it stressed.
The IPI further said that based on reports, a contingent of armed police men unlawfully invaded JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna and arbitrarily arrested the General Manager, Charles Abah and a security guard during the raid.
The IPI statement noted that the police said that they had instructions to arrest journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi, regarding a video explainer produced by JKD Radio & Television on Mr. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.
It said that it also learnt that the Kaduna state police command had already declared Zainab Yabagi wanted.
In the words of the IPI; “It is our firm hope that due diligence and constitutionally enshrined rights would be followed in all processes regarding this matter”.
IPI Nigeria restated its commitment to ethical, responsible and professional Journalism and media practice, thus called on all of its members and colleagues in the noble journalism profession to recommit to these principles, as a matter of priority, especially as the nation approach the season of elections.
