The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, ordered for a ban on the coverage of all police activities in the state, following an unwarranted attack and brutalization of a Vanguard Correspondent, Akpokona Omafuaire.
In a statement issued by Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Comrade Patrick Ochei, Chairman and Secretary, NUJ Delta State Council respectively, the NUJ wondered why the police has been insensitive to the terrible plight of Akpokona, who is lying at the hospital without any care and attention from those who brutalized him.
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The statement reads, “the Council is taken aback by the indifferent disposition of police in Delta State as many journalists have one story or the other to tell about their experiences in the hands of those who are supposed to protect them since the #ENDSARS Protest began.
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“Akpokona’s case is one of the numerous issues the Council has recorded in the past few months and can no longer fold her hands and watch endlessly her members being molested, beaten, harassed, brutalised, intimidated and detained.”
“Right now we are calling on our members in the Council to stop attending police press briefings, stop using their press releases, stop covering their activities or taking interviews from them henceforth. We are in support of the victim seeking redress in court and we will join him to get justice.”
It noted in the statement that the PPRO whose office it is to coordinate police relationship with the media has shown disdain and no concern to the frequent harassment, intimidation and brutalization of journalists in the State.
“It is on this note that we are calling first for the removal of the DPO of Owvian Aladja Police Division for gross incompetence and then the police hierarchy should fish out Sergeant Godspower and his cohorts for appropriate sanction.”
“We will maintain working synergy and cordial relationship with the Police Command in the State if they are ready to; however, we are not ready to bury any of our members who will die from police brutality before the Police will learn how to deal with journalists.”
