Assailants kill 2 Nigerian journalists

Posted by News Express | 2 November 2017 | 2,022 times

•IPC Director Lanre Arogundade

A New report by the International Press Centre, IPC, says two Nigerian journalists have been killed by assailants in the past year.

The IPC in a statement to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists also revealed that 11 other Nigerian journalist have attacked in the course of duty.

It listed the dead journalist Famous Giobaro of Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1, and Lawrence Okojie of Nigerian Television Authority, Benin,

The organisation condemned the situation and urged the government to justice for all attacked journalists in the country through investigation and diligent prosecution of the alleged perpetrators.

The Director of the IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said these were unwelcome development deserving the attention of media stakeholders.

“We attach the highest priority to the safety of journalists and other media actors. We oppose any action, legislation, regulation or political pressure that limits freedom of the press. Acts of intimidation and violence against journalists in Nigeria have to end for democracy to survive. Attacks against media institutions and journalists are attacks against democratic rights including the right of the public to know the truth about the way they are governed,” Mr. Arogundade said.

Mr. Arogundade called on the police authorities to make public disclosure on what has been done so far towards unravelling the mystery behind killed journalists in Nigeria.

He also called on journalists and other media professionals to take their safety more seriously by keeping abreast with various safety tips for journalists covering dangerous assignments.

TV360

Source: News Express