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Attacks On Journalists: IPC Wants Police, LASG To Arrest Assailants

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja 

Worried by the continued attacks on journalists, the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos has called on the Nigeria Police Force and Lagos State government to apprehend the assailants and probe them before a competent court of jurisdiction. 

This is coming on the heels of recent attack on journalists in the convoy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, shortly after their visit to the palace of Oba Rilwan Akiolu, alongside the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

The affected journalists, Adeola Ogunrinde and Omatseye Atsenuwa of Smooth 98.1FM were severely injured, while Adedoja Salam of TVC was left in a state of shock. 

Reacting, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade was optimistic that the arrest would serve as deterrent to other hooligans that may be planning similar attacks on journalists ahead of the 2023 general elections. 

He expressed dismay over the arrest of a campus journalist, Jeremiah Omoniyi, who was deployed by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to cover the Ekiti governorship poll.

Omoniyi was arrested and whisked away by the Department of State Services (DSS) during the Saturday June 18, 2022 poll for allegedly recording a video of a brawl involving party agents at a polling unit in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area in the state.

Arogundade kicked against the conduct of the DSS operatives, which he said amounted to undue harassment and obstruction of a professional journalist on legitimate election duty.

He called on the leadership of DSS and other security agencies to sensitise their officers on election duty, adding that no law prevents journalists from covering, recording and reporting incidents on election day.

According to him, “The role of the media during electoral processes and elections is recognised by the constitution and the Electoral Act, and any assault on any journalist or other media professionals on electoral duty implies that the laws of the country are being undermined."

"The fact that the weekend attacks brings to more than 40, the number of dangerous and life threatening incidents involving journalists and other media professionals as documented by IPC's Safety Alert Desk in the year 2022 alone underscores the need for protection of journalists in Nigeria."

The executive director said that its imperative for the media owners, political parties and government to put in place mechanisms for the protection of journalists during campaigns and elections given the Lagos and Ekiti incidents. 

These were contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Communications Officer of IPC, Olutoyin Ayoade. 

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