From:Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
Following the unending assault on journalists in Bauchi State, by personnel of the state Police Command at public occasions, the state chapter of the Nigeria union of Journalists(NUJ) has directed all media organisation in the state to suspend coverage of all activities in the state,Police
The NUJ in a Press release issued and signed by Comrade Umar Sa’idu and Isah Garba Gadau, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the union made available to newsmen in Bauchi Friday noted with dismay, uncivilized manner of the Nigeria Police in adopting brutality as part of its tradition especially against the Journalists.
The union condemned in strong terms the negative action of the Rapid Response Squad of the State Police command that molested and injured one of its member, Damina Yusuf of the AIT on Thursday 30th July, 2021 while covering students protest at the Bauchi College of Agriculture, Yelwa who was later admitted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
According to the release, “Based on this barbaric act of the police, the union has directed its members to suspend with immediate effect, coverage of all activities of the police in the state until the perpetrators of the act are fished out and prosecuted in addition to the proper payment of compensation and settlement of medical bills of the victim.
The NUJ noted with dissatisfaction the way and manner in which members of the Nigeria Police from Bauchi command that always claims to be partners of the Journalists in progress, brutalised, molested and harassed the AIT reporter and seized his camera, laptop computer, microphone with AIT logo, mobile phones, modem and wallet containing substantial amount of money among other belongings.
The union commended the management of the College of Agriculture Bauchi for its humanitarian gesture by taking the AIT reporter to hospital for medical attention.
The NUJ called on the Bauchi state government to consider the establishment of a standing panel of inquiry to hear cases of security brutality against citizens in the state.
It could be recalled that this is the fifth time in the last one year that Journalists were brutalised by policemen while carrying out their legitimate duties in the state.