Press Release : IPC CONDEMNS ARMY INVASION OF ABIA STATE NUJ SECRETARIAT

The International Press Centre, Lagos-Nigeria condemns the recent invasion of Abia state NUJ secretariat by Nigerian soldiers of Operation Python Dance on Tuesday 12^th of September, 2017.

According to media report, “the military personnel reportedly beat up journalists at sight and destroyed their working tools, furniture, documents and other property yet to be quantified.”

The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement described the unprovoked attack as shameful and a clampdown on democracy as the list of attacked journalists recently seems to grow daily with the worrisome trend becoming more condemnable.

“If the military wants to exercise its authority and strength it should be channeled into assisting the media to make progress in a democratic era and not victimizing the media professionals,” Arogundade said.

IPC therefore calls on the Chief of Defense Staff and Chief of Army Staff to thoroughly probe the incident so that all the personnel involved would be made to face the law.

While this is being done, Mr. Arogundade said the military authorities should take immediate steps to replace all damaged equipment in the Abia State NUJ secretariat.

SGD:

Melody Akinjiyan

Program Assistant/Safety Desk Officer IPC

melodyakinjiyan@ipcng.org

+2348162206470