NUJ Decries Assault, Arrest of Journalists At Nnamdi Kanu Protest.

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The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the unlawful arrest and assault of Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist, Mr John Okunyomih, by security operatives during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, the Council’s Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, described the incident as “a gross violation of press freedom and an affront to democratic principles.”

It was gathered that the car belonging to a Business Day newspaper journalist, Tony Ailemen, was damaged when a police officer fired a tear gas canister directly at it.

“They destroyed the back shield of my car. They actually fired teargas directly at my car,” he said in a message posted on the official NUJ platform.

Meanwhile, Okunyomih was reportedly assaulted by armed soldiers and police officers deployed to disperse demonstrators calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The security operatives were also said to have damaged his professional camera and other equipment while he covered the protest near the Unity Fountain.

The NUJ’s statement called for an immediate investigation into the matter and urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Dantawaye Miller, to identify and discipline the officers involved in the assault.

“The harassment of journalists performing their legitimate duty is unacceptable. Security agents must be reminded that journalists are not enemies of the state but partners in nation-building,” the statement read.

The Council also urged authorities to replace the damaged camera and other tools belonging to the journalist, noting that such action would serve as a deterrent against future attacks on members of the press.

Additionally, the NUJ FCT Council reiterated its demand that security agencies respect journalists’ rights to freely cover public events without intimidation, in accordance with constitutional provisions and global press freedom standards.

“While we acknowledge that he has been released, we hereby demand that his camera and other gadgets that were damaged by the gun-toting armed policemen be replaced with immediate effect.

“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to call his officers to order and be civil in dealing with journalists performing their statutory duty,” the statement added.