A group of publishers, media managers and journalism veterans under the aegis of Port Harcourt Press (PHP) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force to unravel the attack on an ARISE News crew and a former Rivers State commissioner in Port Harcourt.
The group called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Adewole Adepoju, to urgently investigate, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
The ARISE NEWS crew and a former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, were attacked by suspected armed men during a cross interview in Port Harcourt. Although broadcast equipment reportedly stolen during the incident has since been recovered and returned, PHP noted that no arrests or prosecutions have been announced.
Addressing a media conference in Port Harcourt, the group warned that attacks on journalists threaten not only the media profession but society at large.
âWhen journalism is threatened, society itself comes under siege,â the group said.
Speaking on behalf of the body, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives and publisher of Port Harcourt Telegraph, described the incident as an act of intimidation and a direct assault on press freedom and human life.
He said the attack was particularly disturbing because of allegations by Dr. Nwibubasa that the assailants boasted they would resist and âdeal withâ anyone making statements against their alleged leader, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
âSuch a barbaric style of politics is quite ancient. This body condemns in totality the resort to brigandage and barbarism in seeking power or relevance,â Nwuke said.
The group expressed concern that despite the recovery of the equipment, the police had yet to announce any concrete arrests, even after a specific suspect was allegedly named.
âThe silence of the police authorities since Friday, January 2, raises serious concerns,â the group stated, adding that it was constrained to believe that the police might be compromised or complicit if urgent action was not taken.
PHP demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of those involved within two weeks, warning that failure to act would attract sanctions, including the withdrawal of media coverage of police activities in Rivers State in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The group also cautioned that the attack appeared to be a test-run to intimidate journalists and stifle the press ahead of future elections, warning politicians against heating up the polity before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declares the commencement of campaigns.
In a strongly worded appeal, the group called on Wike to âtread with caution,â urging him to act as a statesman and promote peace and tolerance in line with expectations of a federal minister.
âAs media executives who closely monitor the mood of Rivers society, the polity becomes overheated each time he visits local government areas to address supporters,â the group said, adding that Nigerians expect him to preach peace to guarantee transparent, non-violent, free and fair elections in 2027.
Blessing Ibunge
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