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The International Press Centre has warned of increasing attacks on journalists by security agents and thugs as a deliberate attempt to stop them from reporting the truth about the protests.
Some officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser on Thursday abducted and snatched away the camera and mobile phone of Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist of The PUNCH.
As of filing this report, officials are yet to return his belongings.
In the Federal Capital Territory on Friday, police fired tear gas at journalists covering a protest at Berger roundabout.
Also, on Saturday, masked security operatives fired sporadically at journalists at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The bullet pierced the Premium Times reporter’s car as it was carrying journalists away from the scene.
The journalists who were shot by security personnel inside their cars were correspondents of The Punch, The Cable, Premium Times and Peoples Gazette.
In Borno state, nine staff members of Radio Endarasen International were arrested by security officials in Maiduguri while covering the protests.
Other journalists covering the “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” protests have also been harassed and persecuted by security operatives or thugs.
IPC press freedom officer Melody Akinjiyan issued a statement on Saturday deploring the attacks and saying the worrying trend endangers the safety of journalists involved and undermines the integrity of the information citizens rely on to fully understand the crisis.
He said: “As the #EndBadGovernance protests enter their third day, the International News Centre in Lagos is alarmingly finding that journalists covering the protests continue to be targeted and brutally assaulted by security officials, thugs and counter-protesters.
“The IPC expresses displeasure over such inhumane attitude towards media and journalists in the course of discharging their social watchdog duties.
“Information collected by the IPC Journalists Safety Alert Situation Room shows that the number of journalists and media professionals facing various forms of attacks, including physical assault, harassment, illegal detention, etc., continues to increase.
“The IPC believes that these increasing attacks are aimed at preventing the media from reporting the truth about the protests. This disturbing trend not only undermines the safety of the journalists involved, but also the integrity of the information that citizens can rely on to understand the full picture of the crisis.”
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other heads of security agencies to tell their men to maintain order.
“The IPC reiterates that the Inspector General of Police and all other security agencies must demand order from those in the field,” said Akinjiyan. “All stakeholders must come together to condemn the abuse and harassment of journalists and demand the immediate protection of journalists in the field. Our collective voice is a powerful tool to advocate for the safety of journalists and ensure that their essential work is not hindered.”
“The IPC will continue to call for an end to violence and a renewed commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all journalists.”
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