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The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State chapter, has issued a directive to its members to cease reporting on activities in Ezza North Local Government Area. The move is seen as a significant development in the state’s media sector.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State chapter, convened a congress at the Sam Egwu Press Centre in Abakaliki, culminating in a communiqué that directed members to cease reporting in Ezza North Local Government Area.
The communiqué, authenticated by the signatures of Comrade Sampson Nwafor, chairman, and Comrade Nnamdi Akpa, secretary, was circulated among members, formally notifying them of the directive.
A coronation event in Nkomoro community, Ezza North LGA, Ebonyi State, turned ugly on Saturday, June 15, when a group of journalists, including Uchenna Inya of Sun Newspaper, Chinelo Okoro, and Godwin Oguta of FRCN Unity FM, Abakaliki, were set upon by a mob of unknown attackers.
The union condemned in the strongest terms the attack on three members of the union, describing it as crude, barbaric, and a clear attempt to intimidate, subdue, and force journalists into self-censorship.
The Union bemoaned the unconcerned attitude of the people of Nkomoro community about the unprovoked attack, as they are yet to sympathize with the victims more than four days after the incident.
Read also: NUJ Frowns At Attack On Journalists In Ebonyi State
The Union added that this attitude indicates that the attack was carefully and deliberately planned and executed by the entire community.
The council stated that the ban on coverage is necessary pending when relevant authorities and stakeholders of the council area prevail on the people of Nkomoro community, or better still, the perpetrators of the dastardly act, to adequately compensate the victims for their losses during the attack and tender an unreserved written apology to them, copying the NUJ as a body.
The council also resolved to sanction any member who flouts this directive.
The Union further noted the alleged role played in the dastardly act by one Oscar Nwafor and his group, including Samuel Nnoko, Livinus Eze, Obiora Ezaka, Cletus Igwe, and Joseph Oganyi, and called on the concerned authorities to arrest and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others.
