IPC condemns harassment of Wikki Times journalists
Story from Najibullahi ADAMU
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, has condemned in strong terms, the harassment and molestation of Mr Haruna Mohammed, the publisher of Wikki Times online newspaper and one of the reporters by the police in Bauchi state.
The ordeal of the two journalists began on Monday, 27 June 2022, when they honoured an invitation from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) following a petition by Mr Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Bauchi federal constituency concerning a report of May 18, 2022, on the sudden death of the chairman of the All Progressive Peoples Congress (APC) in Bauchi local government area of the state.
READ ALSO: N1 Billion Scam: We stand by our report, WikkiTimes tells Dogara
According to a press statement issued by the communication officer of the centre, Toyin Ayoade, the police detained the journalists on Monday after making a statement.
“They were clamped into a cell where they alleged that they were physically assaulted. Despite the presence of their Lawyer at the Police station, they were not set free until about 10 hours later and asked to report back on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, for further interrogation.
“The two journalists again reported at the SCIID Bauchi on Tuesday as directed but were promptly taken before a Bauchi Magistrate Court where they were charged for criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and cyber stalking. The court ruled that they should be held in custody until Wednesday, June 29, 2022,” the statement read in part.
The IPC while expressing worry over the event, called on the police in the state to avoid being used as tools of harassment against the journalists.
“Since the petitioner alleged defamation, the police should have in the first instance advised him to seek a legal redress instead of illegally detaining the journalists for 10 hours on Monday, June 27, 2022, and subjecting them to physical and mental harassment in the process.”
He said journalists should not continue to be treated as endangered species in Nigeria, stating that in all circumstances, the security agencies must always strive to toe the path of the rule of law in handling complaints or petitions against journalists and other media professionals, just as they should normally do for all citizens.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
