|
Listen to article
|
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has vehemently condemned a shocking assault on its journalists who were invited to cover a high-profile coronation event in Nkomoro, Ezza North Local Government Area.
Uchenna Inya, Godwin Oguta, and Chinelo Okoro, journalists from The Sun and Unity FM, were set upon by a group of marauding thugs as they departed a coronation event, with the assailants also blocking and intimidating other guests.
The assailants also targeted Uchenna Inya’s vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, leaving it badly damaged and its windows shattered.
The vandals extended their destruction to Inya’s Toyota Corolla, leaving the car with severe damage and a crumpled exterior.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants were well aware of the journalists’ identities, and the vehicle they were in clearly displayed press credentials, making them easy targets.
In a strongly worded statement released Saturday, NUJ State Chairman Comrade Sampson Nwafor lamented the incident, pointing to the perils journalists face daily in their line of work.
Read also: NUJ Ebonyi Chapter Laments Loss Of Member To Reckless Driver
According to the statement, perpetrators of the act were among those opposed to the coronation.
But the Council wondered why they should take laws into their hands to the extent of attacking innocent journalists merely carrying out their constitutional duties.
The Council demands that security agencies and the state government take swift and decisive action to identify, apprehend, and punish the perpetrators, setting a strong precedent to deter future attacks.
“This is very important, because the safety and security of journalists are very important for our fledging democracy to thrive.”
The Council emphasized that journalists are essential to a well-functioning society, working tirelessly to uncover truth and hold power accountable, and that any attempts to silence them through violence or intimidation will not be condoned.
