By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
Media for Development Initiative (MDINigeria) and National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), have condemned Sunday’s attack on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna state Council, by hired thugs. NIPR National Vice President, Alhaji Mukhtar Sirajo who led a delegation to the NUJ Kaduna state Council Monday afternoon said the attack on journalists by thugs is condemnable as journalists are only doing their job to serve as watchdog of the society. Sirajo called on the state government and the security agencies to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to book, noting that NUJ should be sacrosanct and should be off limit to thugs.
He prayed that God should grant the injured Liberty TV cameraman quick recovery, while calling on security agencies to ensure adequate security for journalists at all times in the course of their duties as the fourth estate of the realm. MDINigeria in a statement signed by its Team Leader, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, in Kaduna, said: “Th e attack on Journalists at Kaduna Press Centre remains condemned and unacceptable. It is an assault and attack on journalism. We demand an immediate investigation into the matter and prosecution of culprits and their sponsors by relevant security agencies.” MDINigeria further warns, “politicians should not use the Media Centre as platforms for their dirty and brutal exchanges.”
Th e group, however, advised journalists not to be dragged into massaging the egos of politicians; “as professionals, journalists must resist attempts by politicians to use them as tools in their desperate struggles to hold on or ride to power.” “As watchdogs of the society, we should not be distracted from monitoring leaders and lawmakers alike in discharging their constitutional responsibilities towards addressing the myriads of challenges facing the common man.”
