IPC condemns attacks on journalists covering elections

At International Press Center (IPC), Lagos, is deeply concerned about the reported attacks on journalists and other media professionals covering the current presidential and senatorial elections.

Information reaching the IPC-JURNALISTS-ELECTION-DAY-SAFETY-ALERT DESK indicates that no fewer than three journalists and media professionals have been attacked and unlawfully arrested.

The details include the attack and arrest of Gbenga Oloniniran of The Punch Newspaper by a police team near Governor Nyesom Wike’s residence in Rumuiprikon, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of ​​Rivers State.

“Oloniniran, who was on election duty took pictures from the scene when the police arrested some youths in the polling unit when the operation attacked him. Without listening to him, the operators who were in the Swift Operation Squad grabbed the phone, assaulted him and put him in a van.

“He was beaten while in the van even though he deleted some of the pictures he had taken earlier, including the one taken during his arrest, the report stated.”

Also documented was the attack on a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) vehicle which was sending a crew member who was running around town to monitor the election by the mob in Liberty area of ​​Ibadan, Oyo State.

The youths were said to be lamenting the woes of the country, but chose to send their aggression to journalists.

Also attacked was the Executive Director of the International Center for Investigative Reporting, Dayo Aiyetan, who was assaulted in Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja while covering the elections.

“There was a disturbance and someone tried to raise the canopy above the INEC officials. I was recording a scene when someone told me to stop recording. Me. Within seconds, I was surrounded by mobs of people, miscreants, thugs, etc. I was beaten, my clothes were torn and my phone, car keys, wallet and bag full of debit cards and other things. They took everything from me. But I fought to keep my camera.”

“A man brought a knife and tried to stab me. I kicked him with a steel leg sketch and luckily, apart from a few scratches, I was unharmed,” the report said.

Also Read: #NigeriaDecides2023: Results from the Polling Unit for the Presidential/NASS election

Mr. Aiyetan has since reported the attack to the Divisional Police Officer in Gwagwalada area.

The Executive Director of the IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said: “The various attacks on journalists during the general election are reprehensible and unjustified”

He further said: “the right of journalists to monitor and report election day activities is constitutionally guaranteed and recognized by various regulatory frameworks such as the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Broadcasting Code and the Nigerian Media Code on Election Coverage and therefore must be respected.

Mr. Arogundade called on the police authorities to immediately investigate the attack and ensure that the perpetrators face the full weight of the law.

He also called on the Inspector General of Police to enlighten police officers and those on election duty to protect and not attack journalists.

SGD:
Melody Akinjiyan
Press Freedom Officer, IPC
meloyakinjiyan@ipcng.org