Rivers
IPC Condemns Election Day Attacks On Journalists In Lagos, Others
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has expressed regrets over the reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals who covered the Saturday March 18, 2023 rescheduled Gubernatorial/States House of Assembly elections in some parts of the country including Rivers, Lagos, and Ogun States.
This was contained in a statement signed by IPC’s Freedom Officer, Melody Lawal, and made availabe to the Press in Port Harcourt, weekend.
The IPC noted that its “Journalists’ -Election-Day-Safety-Alert-Desk” confirmed that AIT Reporters and cameramen, Henrietta Oke, Amarachi Amushie and Nkiru Nwokedi were molested and prevented from covering the elections at some polling units in Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye and Amuwo Odofin Local Government Areas of Lagos State by political thugs and hoodlums.
According to the statement, Nwokedi temporarily lost her phone before it was recovered with the help of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) men, while Amushie was rough-handled, her camera damaged, and the cameraman beaten under the watch of a political chieftain.
The Alert Desk also established that Arise Television News crew, which comprised of a Reporter, Mr.Oba Adeoye; Cameraman, Opeyemi Adenihun; and driver, Mr. Yusuf Hassan, were also attacked while covering voting in Elegushi area of Lagos.
“The cameraman, Opeyemi Adenihun suffered facial injuries, while drones and equipment were seized”, it said.
In Ogun State, News Agency of Nigeria’s reporter, Adejoke Adeleye, was among journalists molested in Itori Odo Area of Abeokuta South Local Government where they faced mob attack by political thugs who also reportedly assaulted INEC officials with axes and allegedly destroyed ballot boxes.
It also expressed dissatisfactions that some overzealous security agents disallowed INEC approved journalists from executing their jobs in some areas in Rivers State.
The IPC, however, condemed these unacceptable attacks which constituted both the violation of the fundamental rights of the affected journalists and media workers and major assault on press freedom.
“Following the attacks on journalists during the presidential and national Assembly elections on February 25, we had called on the Police, the Political Parties and all concerned to take measures to protect them today.
It is therefore worrisome that such attacks have been repeated”, the statement added.
The statement, further charged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the various attacks and ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their illegal and actions on the people.
By: King Onunwor
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