The leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone
C, (South East) has condemned the unwarranted invasion of the Press Centre of
NUJ, Abia State Council, at Umuahia on Tuesday 12th September, 2017,
by alleged Nigerian army personnel, saying the act has thrown the country into
a police state officially, reports ITRealms.
Vice President Zone C, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, and
Secretary, Zone C, Comrade Kenneth Ofoma in a press statement joint endorsed by
them, noted that the military personnel reportedly beat up journalists at sight
and destroyed their working tools such as Samsung Tablets, mobile telephones,
and mini-recorders.
“The military men also destroyed furniture, documents and
other property yet to be quantified,” they said.
Describing this as unprovoked attack, NUJ said its barbaric
and shameful, and a throwback to dark days of military dictatorship, which the
media and other well-meaning organizations and individuals fought hard to
change the regime and psyche.
“The attack on the journalists on the ostensible suspicion
of taking photos and/or videos of the military on a “show of strength” in a
highly populated busy street, without any atom of security threat, calls to
question; whether Nigeria is still operating a civil democracy or military
dictatorship? Has Nigeria returned to the dark days of police state? Or is
Nigeria at war?” they wondered.
NUJ also asked “if indeed the military wants to “showcase
her strength”, what is wrong in the media, if at all they took pictures or
video, in helping them to showcase the military power? Haven’t they been
calling for media support and collaboration?”
They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the military
to order, stressing that Nigeria deserves peace and development, and South East
is peaceful, as there is no evidence that Governors from this zone, who are the
Chief Security Officers of those domain, had made any request for military
deployment.
“Even the latest United Nation’s report indicates that South
East geo-political zone is the most peaceful in the country,” the Council said.
Equally, NUJ urged the National Assembly and the
International Community to weigh into this fragrant abuse of human rights, and
premeditated provocation of civil disobedience that might precipitate shedding
of innocent blood.
“We also call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army
Staff and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army Enugu to
take note of this unprofessional conducts and punish the unruly officers. They
should also take immediate steps to replace damaged equipments/gadgets and
compensate our colleagues manhandled. There must be rules of engagement in line
with international best practices,” they appealed.
Just as the Council advised the Federal Government to adopt
dialogue in handling issues of pro-Biafra agitations in the zone, which many
have described as a metaphor for so many contradictions and the state of anomy
in the economic and socio-political life of the country.
“All these had equally resulted in strident calls from
different quarters for urgent restructuring of the country. The Federal
Government cannot be impervious to the building tension, frustration and
suffering of Nigerians and shouldn’t pour fuel into a gathering fire,” NUJ
cautioned.
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