Some gunmen had last Friday invaded the office of the newspaper in Abuja, subjected the workers on duty to inhuman treatment and reportedly threatened to kill them if they report the matter to the police. They were said to have arrived at the company’s premises about 3:00 a.m. after scaling the wall.
Reacting to the development in a statement made available to The Guardian in Enugu, yesterday, COSMBYLA, an umbrella youth group for South-East, South-South, South West and Middle Belt regions, charged law enforcement agencies to swing into action and unravel those behind the act, just as it asked Nigerians to rise in defence of media organisations.
The groups’ statement was issued by Goodluck Egwu Ibem, Coordinator, Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents, Terrence Kuanum; Coordinator, South West Youth Leaders Forum (SWYLF), Shittu Waheed, and President of South-South Youth Forum (SSYF), Tito Zokumor.
“COSMBYLA totally condemns the attack on ThisDay office in Utako, Abuja by gunmen, who threatened to kill all the staff members on duty if the staff dares to alert the police.
“It is a vicious and ferocious attempt to gag the press in a democracy and it cannot stand. These attacks are a blow to press freedom. It showcases once again the brazen way to intimidate and harass the press.
“The attack will not be far-fetched from the fact that it has maintained its professional ethics and standard over the years in journalism and news reporting. The medium is known for objectivity and truthfulness in its dealings and has always stood firmly with the people and the downtrodden. As a result, some people are not happy about it hence the attack on this renowned professional newspaper establishment.
“This attack on the Utako, Abuja office of ThisDay must be unraveled by the police and other security agencies and those responsible brought to justice. Abuja is the nucleus of the nation’s sovereignty and if criminal elements can attack any section of it without being apprehended or arrested, it then means that the country is gone,” the statement reads.
The groups warned those threatening and attacking the press to desist henceforth or attract the exasperation of the Nigerian youths adding that never again should this kind of attack happen to ThisDay or any other newspaper house, Radio and Television stations in the country.
“We urge the youths not to allow themselves to be used as thugs to attack the press, anyone or any property. If those who enjoy killing and destroying property contract any youth for such dirty jobs, they should tell them to engage their children to do such jobs,” the statement added.
