LAGOS MAY 3RD (URHOBOTODAY)-The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents chapel Monday condemned in strong terms the unwarranted attack on the Sun Newspaper Correspondent, in Warri, Elder Emmanuel Ogoigbe, by men of the JTF at a checkpoint in Warri for allegedly passing information to them on a possible breakdown of law and order at a nearby location.
In a statement, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Union, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire respectively, NUJ gave the army a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to the Union and Elder Emmanuel Ogoigbe for the unprovoked attack.
“We want to state our displeasure on the unwarranted attack on our colleague who was only carrying out his constitutional duties of collaborating with security agencies in the country to forestall a breakdown of law and order.”
The NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel, also called on the Chief of Army Staff and the Commander, 3 Battalion to fish out the culprits and call them to order to forestall a re-occurrence of the act.
“We vehemently frown at the situation whereby military personnel, who are meant to protect lives and property, turn around and begin to brutalize, molest and sometime kill the people they are meant to protect.”
Similarly, Comrade Norbert Chiazor Chairman, Delta State Council of the NUJ, described as unacceptable attack on any journalists for whatever reason, noting that the era of military brutalization of journalists were over.