Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa State, has lambasted the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, Yakubu Lamai, over his comments following an assault on Daily Trust reporter, Joseph Hir.
A communique issued at the end of the correspondents’ chapel congress held on Monday and signed by its chairman and secretary, Suleiman Abubakar and Isaac Ukpoju, respectively, condemned in strong terms what it said was an, “unwarranted attack on Hir Joseph, correspondent of Daily Trust Newspaper by touts at the venue of the inauguration ceremony of Governor Umaru Al-Makura’s second term on Friday May, 29, 2015 in Lafia”.
The union urged the state government and the various security agencies in the state to take proactive measures to safeguard the lives of journalists as the atmosphere was becoming too volatile for effective journalism practice.
The Congress also described as appalling, Lamai’s statement to the effect that Hir Joseph was not beaten but only involved in a scuffle with touts even when the incident took place at the full glare of everyone, including journalists.
“If Hir Joseph was not ‘slapped or anything akin to beating’ as Lamai had alleged, why and how did he end up in the hospital in an ambulance?” they quipped.
“In as much as we are not joining issues with Lamai, his statement over the episode is to say the least unprofessional”.
The Congress, therefore, called on the state government to ensure that the security agencies arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them immediately in view of the much needed cordial relationship with the press to foster the rapid.
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