The International Centre’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists, I-CSPJ, has condemned the reported police attack on some journalists covering the sitting of the Kano Governorship Election petition tribunal on Wednesday.
According to reports, Daily Trust and BBC Hausa reporters, Salim Umar-Ibrahim, Zahraddeen Lawal, were attacked by the police during the tribunal sitting in the state.
Report from Salim Ibrahim of Daily Trust states that, “the Police who were on duty asked the journalists to move 10 meters away from the Court premises and in the process, some of them pounced on them, alleging that they were taking pictures.”
“While some went after BBC reporter trying to seize his phone, others held Salim Ibrahim of Daily Trust and forcefully collected his phone, damaging the screen,” the report further stated.
Reacting, the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, in a statement on Wednesday by Melody Akinjiyan, the Centre’s Press Freedom Officer, said, described the attacks on the journalists as dangerous to democracy and a major threat to press freedom.
Mr Arogundade said: “The unwarranted attacks on journalists on legitimate duty is dangerous to our democracy and a major threat to press freedom. Such act violates the fundamental human rights of the journalists.”
IPC executive-director, therefore, urged the men of the Nigeria Police Force to be mindful of actions they take against journalists.
“I-CSPJ therefore calls on the Kano State Commissioner of Police to take adequate and swift measures to bring to book those who assaulted the journalists while putting in place machinery to compensate the affected journalists for this inhumane treatment.
“We also call on the Nigeria Police Force to step up the training of its officers to be more respectful and courteous in relating with journalists and other media professionals.
“They should be reminded constantly that the primary responsibility of the Police is the protection of citizens including journalists,” the statement noted.
