CLO Blasts Jonathan's Security For Assault On Journalists

CLO Blasts Jonathan's Security For Assault On Journalists

CIVIL Liberties Organisation (CLO) says the assault on some journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Tuesday, by President Goodluck Jonathan's security aides is totally unacceptable, aand smacks of a dictatorship.

AkanimoReports says the group has also warned against the growing trend of manhandling journalists at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rallies. The human rights and pro-democracy group says it wants the Federal Government to strongly condemn such acts of impunity, and bring offenders to book.

The group was reacting to the incident that happened at the venue of the PDP presidential campaign rally in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Tuesday. The Secretary of the Bayelsa branch of CLO Mr. Morris Alagoa, told a correspondent of AkanimoReports on Wednesday that some journalists who were covering the rally, were allegedly held hostage and manhandled by security agents.

CLO claimed that information available to them indicate the dehumanisation of the journalists was allegedly ordered by the Aide-De –Camp [ADC] President Goodluck Jonathan, Ojogbane Adegbe, an Army Lt. Colonel.

According to the rights group, ''as citizens, their fundamental human rights ought to be protected. It becomes very disturbing to note that journalists are being maltreated in Nigeria. It is really sad''.

They claimed that the affected journalists were trying to leave the venue of the rally soon after President Jonathan left the venue. ''They were actually disallowed from going out to file in their reports to their respective media organizations'', the CLO said.

Continuing, they said the affected journalists were forced back and thrown over to the barricaded area and guarded to ensure that they do not leave at the time they wanted to leave to send their reports.

Apparently piqued by the incident, the CLO is therefore making the following demands and recommendation:

* Proper recognition should always be accorded this very important professionals before, during and after such events.

* Those in charge of security should ensure that all journalist accredited to cover such events are duly briefed at least twenty four hours before the event and proper, identifiable tags are made available to each and every one of them, that gives them some measure of air of freedom to enter or leave such venues.

* The authorities should openly apologize for the continued harassment of journalists, even for this recent case in Yenagoa.

* Security agencies should also recognize the fact that they ought to work in close collaboration with newsmen, to ensure that the society gets the actual news and on time, to avoid rumour. The scenario whereby security agents or soldier manhandle journalists does not portray the nation in good light. Journalists, in their own right ought to be treated with respect. Our society would be worse for it without the effort of journalists; hence the authorities must take appropriate steps to put an end to all forms of maltreatment meted out on journalists in the country. Enough is enough.

* The Nigeria Union of Journalists must rise up to the occasion and make the necessary demands from government for the protection of not only their members Fundamental Human Rights, but their rights as professionals whose areas of jurisdiction cannot be limited by intimidation. And, until the right thing is done on the subject matter, the CLO will continue to demand that the authorities prevail on the security agencies to behave in civilized manner to fellow citizens going about their legitimate duties to their employers and society in general.

For the CLO, the assault on journalists ''is totally unacceptable. This has become a recurring decimal and we demand an end to the act''

ENDS

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