A professional advocacy body, the West Africa Editors Society (WAES) has condemned the attack on journalist Mohammed Adamu by Bauchi police.
A press statement issued today by released by the organisation’s Interim President, Mr Emmanuel K Dogbevi expressed concern at the conduct of the police officers in Bauchi who assaulted the journalist – who works for Albarka Radio in Bauchi State.
It described the conduct of the police officers as ‘’unprofessional, unacceptable and condemnable by all right-thinking persons in the society. Police officers are under oath to protect life and property and to keep the peace, it is therefore troubling that police officers would be the ones violating journalists doing their job’’.
WAES therefore called on state authorities of Bauchi to promptly investigate the matter and ‘’if any officers are found culpable, they should be duly made to face the law’’.
‘’Police officers and all state security officers should be mindful of the important role journalists play in the society. They do important work of gathering news and informing the public. They are to be protected and supported to do their job, which is in the public interest,’’ the statement added.
Adamu was covering the Eid Durbar celebrations in Bununu, the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa LGA when the incident occurred in Tafawa Balewa over the weekend, raising fresh concerns about the safety of journalists and press freedom in the state.
The journalist alleged that the assault was led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Jamilu Kabir, who ordered him to leave the venue, when he (Adamu) tried to identify himself as a journalist.
Adamu, who said he was in the company of other media professionals and an information officer to cover the festivities, said he was earlier stopped by a police constable while heading to the designated media area.
According to Adamu, “we were at Bununu district for Eid durbar celebration with the Information Officer and other media professionals. As I was heading to the place designated for journalists, a police constable stopped me. Even as I told him I am a reporter, he began beating me. Other officers whom I knew joined in assaulting me. Many others kept beating and brutalising me.”
Adamu alleged that the assault was led by the DPO, SP Jamilu Kabir, who he said prevented him
from carrying out his assignment despite proper identification.
The victimized journalist has since been treated in a hospital.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi police spokesperson, SP Nafi’u Habib told the media the police has been informed of the incident and will investigate and take necessary action.