The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Sani-Omolori Aliyu has constituted an investigative-disciplinary team to probe the assault on an Albarka Radio journalist, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, by police officers over the weekend while he was covering the Eid Durbar celebration in Bununu, headquarters of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
This is coming in the wake of widespread condemnation of the police action by reputable non-governmental organisations, journalists and relevant stakeholders who decried the assault on the journalist, Mr. Mohammed Adamu and called for necessary disciplinary measures against the erring police officers.
The CP, who assured a prompt and proper action, condemned the assault and promised to deal with the erring police officer(s) who allegedly brutalized the reporter according to the extant law .
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib who disclosed this in a statement , said the police boss met with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel, the general manager of Albarka Radio, and the relatives of the journalist in his office on Monday and assured them that the erring officers will not go unpunished if found culpable.
Sani-Omolori Aliyu emphasized that police personnel were deployed to protect lives and property of all people in their areas of responsibility, and not to get involved in attacks on civilians.
“I see this incident as an affront to Nigerian journalists, with whom we have built a mutual relationship over the years. We will investigate the matter, and appropriate sanctions and consequences will follow anyone found wanting.”
“We will ensure that police and journalists protect the human rights of every Nigerian. The PPRO briefed me about the incident earlier on today. A police officer is expected to exercise utmost restraint in the face of provocation. This definitely is a teaching moment for officers and men of the force,” he added.