NUJ Slams Police For Assault On Sun Reporter
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council has condemned the unwarranted attack, arrest and detention of the Sun Newspaper Correspondent in Enugu, Comrade Raphael Ede by the Nigeria Police while covering a protest at Centenary City, Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area on Friday.
The Union, which described the incident as ‘barbaric and totally unacceptable’ has demanded the police high command to fish out its personnel that perpetrated the dastardly act and punished them appropriately.
A statement issued by the State NUJ Chairman, Mr Rex Arum on Sunday, frowned at the Police action, warning that the Union will not tolerate acts of bullying, intimidation and unlawful arrest of journalists by the police or any other security agency in the course of performing their legitimate duties in Enugu State.
“We hereby condemn the act in its totality as the journalist was doing his legitimate duty as at the time the Police swooped on him, bundled him to the SARS office in Enugu after beating him to stupor.
“The young man told the Union that he was detained from mid morning hours till about 6pm with neither food or water on that faithful day”, the statement said.
According to the Union, it is quite unfortunate that despite all entreaties, “The police after beating him; took away his NUJ new National ID card and one of his two phones, which has been recovered”.
The Union regrets that appeals by its officials and some highly placed police officers in Enugu to secure the reporter’s release fell on deaf ears until the intervention of the State Police Commissioner, Damallam Mohammed.
The statement also said; “a medical examination of the reporter indicates that he sustained various degree of internal injuries consequent on the merciless beating he received from the overzealous policemen” and called on the police authorities to take responsibility for this reprehensible act by its overzealous personnel.
The statement further read; “However, we shall remain partners in the onerous task of contributing to the development of our country, while we believe that the police should not soil the subsisting relationship and partnership between them and the Press in Enugu State.”
While appealing for peace and calm among NUJ members in the state, the statement said; “the police authorities concerned are looking into the matter with a view to ensuring peace and good working relationship with them” are maintained.
