Lockdown: Anambra NUJ warns Police to stop molesting journalists •Urges CP to call his men to order

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, has reminded the police that they are not more patriotic than journalists in the discharge of government policies and programmes.

This is coming on the heels of a recent molestation of some of its members that were stopped from performing their duty following the lockdown of the state by Governor Willie Obiano.

The union called on the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP John Abang, to educate and call his men to order forthwith.

Anambra NUJ in a statement by the state Secretary of the union, Emma Udeagha, entitled, “Unauthorised obstruction of journalists and media workers by policemen enforcing the lockdown directives in Anambra State”, warned the police to stop molesting its members in the course of their duty.

The statement partly reads: “The attention of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has been drawn to unlawful obstruction and detention of some Journalists and media workers in the state by security seen enforcing the lockdown directives of the State Government over the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Some of these journalists and media workers, including Correspondents of media houses and staff members of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, who were going to their beats were detained for several hours today (Sunday).

“The situation is unacceptable. This unconscionable action resulted in the failure of some radio and television programmes meant to update the public on the pandemic.

“It is amazing that these media workers were detained even after properly identifying themselves.

“The action of these security men were clearly against the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu for them to ensure that persons on essential duties, duly exempted from the restriction orders, including Journalists and media workers, should be accorded due courtesies and unfettered access to and from their places of duty.

“We take serious exception to the unprofessional, inhuman, tactless and overzealous action of the police men on this matter.”

Anambra NUJ reminded the police that all over the world, journalists, like health workers, are in the frontline, getting the facts, breaking them down and reporting them in a manner that the populace can assimilate.

It added: “No one should claim to be more patriotic. The State Council of the NUJ, as the umbrella body of journalists in this state will resist any attempt to undermine its members in any form.

“We note that this is not the first time that Journalists were humiliated in the line of duty in the state. There is need for synergy between journalists and Media workers especially at this trying time as both work for a better society.

“The Council would take appropriate action if the untoward development was not checked.”