OOMPA condemns police’s arrest of Online newspaper publisher, Shooting of Journalist in Osun
…Warns Against Siege On Journalists
Osun Online Media Practitioners Association condemns in strong terms the arrest of Mr Fatai Akanji, an Online newspaper publisher and the shooting of the nation’s newspaper correspondent, Toba Adedeji.
Fatai, the publisher of Adulawo news, was arrested after the shooting of the journalist by Operatives of the Nigeria police in Osun.
The arrest of the publisher over a story and picture of attack on fellow journalist by the news medium was tantamount to gagging the press by security operatives on the freedom of the press.
The police invaded the NUJ correspondent’s chapel premises in Osogbo in the early hours of Tuesday.
The action of the police was barbaric to have arrested and took Fatai to their custody for more than 45 minutes at the Dugbe police station, Osogbo.
We learned that the policemen acted on the directives of other security colleagues who had threatened to deal with the leadership of the media outfit for publishing a news story titled, “Osun Police Shoot Journalist, One Other In Osogbo”.
It was witnessed that the publisher, Fatai has been released after due intervention by the Online Media Practitioners and Nigeria union of Journalists, Osun state council.
The dastard action of the police is another threat to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press as the fourth estate of the realm.
The police is learned enough to know that in such instance, there is room for maintaining other in a social gathering instead of taking laws into their hands by dehumanising and shooting a journalist.
The freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees the right to express views on issues through any medium of choice.
Press freedom is also concomitant to the right to express views.
The police should know that free expression is the bedrock of democracy and a necessary ingredient for an enabling free civil society.
The security operatives are, therefore, duty bound to join in promoting press freedom as enshrined in Section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
All overzealous activities of security operatives against the press must stop for democracy to survive and thrive.
We advise that the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba as a matter of urgency should resort to appropriate alternative measures to save the state from further unrest and crisis rather than allowing bad elements in the Osun force adopting an undemocratic move in gagging the press and citizens with “gun”
Journalists as professionals have the responsibility to monitor and cover protest and report to the public.
It should be a symbiotic relationship between the press and the security operatives, rather than bullying and intimidating the press.
Bright Gbotemi
Publicity Secretary.
