BY EVELYN DADU, ABUJA – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday raised alarmed over the continued silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over the #ENDSARS protests that have engulfed the country.
The NUJ said that it agree that the proper measures in addressing the grievances of the #ENDSARS protesters have not been taken.
It therefore suggested that the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari should come out and address Nigerians with a clear strategy on how to tackle these grievances.
The NUJ said; “Certainly, Mr President has not lost his voice. Nigerians are waiting as the nation sits on a time bomb”.
It said that Nigerians, mainly the youth are protesting against Police brutality that had characterised the operations of the dreaded Special Anti-Rubbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
These were contained in a statement by the National Secretary of the NUJ, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman in which he noted that the disbanded SARS was legendary in its abuse of human rights.
It said that even though the Inspector General of Police quickly disbanded SARS and substituted it with the Special Weapons Attack Team (SWAT), the protesters were not impressed.
The NUJ said that to the protesting youths, the haste with which SWAT was set up was a gimmick to thwart the agitation for the complete reform of the police.
The Union equally call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately end all acts of impunity against Journalists.
It said; “Specifically, we call for the unconditional release of Tom Oga Uhia, Publisher of Power Steering Magazine. Tom Oga has been detained since last week on the orders of the Minister of State for Power, Godwin Jeddy Agba, for allegedly defaming him”.
The NUJ said that since the Police are unable to take Oga to court all this while, his continued detention further exposes the decay and impunity in the Police.
