The Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, has condemned the assault on a photojournalist with Daily Trust newspapers, Ikechukwu Ibe, by an Army captain.
Ibe was gathering news on October 26 at Jabi area of Abuja when he was attacked, the NUJ said.
The union in a statement by its Secretary, Rafat Salami, on Monday said Mr. Ibe “was brutally assaulted leaving him with multiple lacerations and swollen eyes.”
“The over-zealous military officers confiscated his camera, removed and destroyed the memory card just because he took some pictures of a vehicle that ran into a restaurant in Jabi.
“Rather than treat journalists as partners in nation building, security agents have consistently treated journalists as enemies who must be crushed.
“More saddening is the fact that the assault took place just as Nigeria is preparing to commemorate the ‘International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists’ on November 2,” the union said.
The union said such actions by uniformed security agents are unacceptable in a civilised and democratic nation where the rule of law must be allowed to thrive.
“It is a clear case of gross violation of the rights of the journalist,” NUJ added.
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