IPI Nigeria National Committee had hoped that the appointment of Tunji Disu as Inspector General of Police would usher in a new era of respect for human rights and press freedom.
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has called on Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to identify and sanction police officers involved in the reported invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network in Millennium City, Kaduna State.
The organisation said the police should not be involved in civil disputes arising from reports published or broadcast by media organisations, urging anyone aggrieved by a television or radio report to seek redress through the courts. It also called on Mr Disu to issue a directive to police formations across the country to refrain from allowing officers to be used to intimidate journalists or civilians.
“The Inspector General of Police is urged to issue an advisory to all police formations to steer clear of civil cases and to stop allowing themselves to be used as weapons to terrorise civilians.
“Those who carried out the invasion should also be apprehended and reprimanded for carrying out an illegal duty,” the statement read.
According to IPI Nigeria, a contingent of armed policemen allegedly invaded JKD TV Hamada Radio Network in Millennium City, Kaduna, in connection with a video explainer produced by the station concerning Ibrahim Masari, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political affairs.
The police reportedly said they were acting on instructions to arrest journalist Zainab Yabagi, whom the Kaduna State Police Command had earlier declared wanted.
During the operation, the station’s General Manager, Charles Abah, and a security guard were allegedly arrested. IPI Nigeria described the operation as unlawful and expressed concern over the use of armed police officers in a matter it considers civil, stressing that disputes over media reports should ordinarily be resolved through lawful judicial processes.
Read full statement
IPI NIGERIA ASKS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE TO SANCTION POLICEMEN WHO INVADED TV STATION
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute-IPI Nigeria, has received with concern reports of invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna by a contingent of heavily armed police.
Invading media houses in gestapo style is a stark reminder of what the media suffered during the military era.
IPI condemns in strong terms this invasion and advises the police to stop meddling in civil cases.
Anyone who is aggrieved by a report aired on television or radio stations should approach the court for redress.
IPI Nigeria National Committee had hoped that the appointment of Mr Tunji Disu as Inspector General of Police would usher in a new era of respect for human rights and press freedom.
However, this latest invasion of a media house in Kaduna has shown that it is a forlorn hope.
Journalists and practitioners in the Media across the country are therefore advised to prepare and wake up to a new wave of suppression of press freedom.
IPI believes that it is not too late for the Inspector General of Police to redeem himself by ensuring that the police officer who ordered the invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna is identified and punished for ordering an illegal operation.
The Inspector General of Police is urged to issue an advisory to all police formations to steer clear of civil cases and to stop allowing themselves to be used as weapons to terrorise civilians.
Those who carried out the invasion should also be apprehended and reprimanded for carrying out an illegal duty.
For the umpteenth time, it bears repeating to say that a lack of accountability is the reason police men continue to trample on people’s rights. The strongest weapon against reckless violation of people’s rights and media freedom by police officers is prompt identification and punishment of erring officers.
According to reports, a contingent of armed police men unlawfully invaded JKD TV Hamada Radio Network Millennium City Kaduna.
Both the General Manager, Charles Abah and a security guard were allegedly arbitrarily arrested during the raid.
The Police said that they had instructions to arrest journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi, regarding a video explainer produced by JKD Radio & Television on Mr. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.
IPI Nigeria also learnt that the Kaduna state police command had already declared Zainab Yabagi wanted.
It is our firm hope that due diligence and constitutionally enshrined rights would be followed in all processes regarding this matter.
Finally, IPI Nigeria restates its commitment to ethical, responsible and professional Journalism and media practice.
We call on all our members and colleagues in this noble profession to recommit to these principles, as a matter of priority, especially as we approach the season of elections.
Ahmed Shekarau
Secretary
IPI Nigeria
Tobi Soniyi
Legal Adviser
IPI Nigeria
