20
Jan
Jan
EDO NUJ CONDEMNS ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS BY DSS OPERATIVES
-
Nicolas Adekeye / 2 days
- 0
- 2 min read
The Chairman, Edo NUJ, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, and the Secretary, Edo NUJ, Andy Egbon, in a statement, have strongly condemned the unwarranted attack on journalists by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting on Monday, January 20, 2025. The attempt to bar journalists from performing their constitutional duties is a blatant assault on press freedom and the fundamental right of citizens to information and free speech. Dr. Alenkhe and Egbon described the actions of the DSS operatives as “unacceptable” and a clear indication of the growing hostility towards the media in Nigeria. They called on the Director-General of the DSS and the Edo State Director of the service to take immediate steps to caution their personnel and prevent future occurrences. The Edo NUJ leadership stood in solidarity with their colleagues who were harassed and intimidated by the DSS operatives, demanding an unconditional apology to the NUJ and an assurance that journalists will be allowed to perform their duties without hindrance. Failure to comply, the union threatened to take further steps, including boycotting activities of the organization in Edo State. Andy Egbon emphasized that the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, will continue to advocate for press freedom and the protection of journalists’ rights. “We urge all stakeholders to join us in condemning this brazen attack on democracy and the free press,” Dr. Alenkhe added.