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The International Press Centre (IPC) yesterday condemned the continuous attacks on journalists by security men of the Kogi State Government House.Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade described the assault as an infringement on freedom of expression and the fundamental rights of the journalists,
“Only three weeks ago, Segun Salami of Channels Television was beaten up, dragged on the floor and locked up in the government house cell. This calls for serious concern and attention by all well meaning Nigerians.
“Newpapers had reported that for the second time in one month, security men at the Kogi State Government House on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 allegedly brutalised Wale Odunsi, an editor with Daily Post, an online publication, in an effort to honour Governor Yahaya Bello’s invitation,” he said.
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The IPC, however, urged Bello and the State Commissioner of Police to immediately probe the increasing attacks on journalists at the Government House and take necessary actions against the erring security personnel, in order to forestall a re-occurrence. Speaking, Professor Lai Oso of School of Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo decried the attacks on journalists, saying the development was getting out of hand.
“This shows government officials’ intolerance and lack of respect for human rights. The Kogi State government has lately been agitated by media reports, hence this attacks could be seen as a reaction to some of the reports,” he added.
Also, a lecturer in the School of Media and Communications, Pan Atlantic University, said Nigerians were living in a time of political intolerance.“Journalists who are trying to carry out investigations are constantly intimidated, and this happens because of the dictator Nigeria has as president,” he said.
