The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bauchi State Council, has directed all its members to boycott all activities of the Nigeria Police Force in the state.
The directive followed an attack on one of its members, Damina Yusuf, a reporter with the Africa Independent Television by men of the Rapid Response Squad of the Police in Bauchi State, which resulted in him sustaining some injuries.
He was assaulted while covering a protest by students of the College of Agriculture, Yelwa, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.
His phones, camera and microphone bearing the AIT logo on them were all confiscated by the security operatives.
A statement signed by the NUJ Chairman and Secretary, Umar Sa’idu and Isah Gadau, respectively, and made available to journalists on Friday, condemned the incident and noted with dismay, “the uncivilised manner of the Nigeria Police in adopting brutality as part of its tradition, especially against journalists.”
The Union insisted that the perpetrators of the dastardly act on the journalist must be punished before coverage of Police activities in the state will be restored.
The statement reads: “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.
“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 Police “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, despite always claiming to be partners in progress with them (journalists).
“The union commended the management of the College of Agriculture Bauchi for it’s 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,” the Union said.
According to the Union, “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.”
