Abia journalists decry harassment/manhandling by Security Personnel
Journalists in Abia state have decried their harassment and manhandling while on duty by some security personnel and pleaded with the state Commissioner of Police ( CP ) Mr Kenechukwu Onwuemelie to do the needful that would check those done by his men.
The journalists who decried the scenario yesterday when members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) interacted with him for the first time since he assumed duty in the state about two years ago.
The Chapel also faulted the practice of the state Police Command sidelining its members during news briefings especially the ones convened when suspected criminals were apprehended, which are also major news breaks that they ought to promptly report to their Offices and not source same from third party Reporters that were invited.
The Chapel comprises representatives of various Print, Electroninc and other media organizations whose head offices are located outside Abia state.
The Chairman of the chapel , Comrade Sam Obiinna Ibe who led the members on the visit yesterday, recalled to the CP that a journalist on duty was recently manhandled while interviewing Customers on the effect of the NLC strike action on them stressing that by the interview, the manhandled journalist was carrying out his duty and ought to be protected by the Police and not beaten up and confiscating his working Tool, the Camera.
Comrade Ibe however commended CP Onwuemelie for being proactive saying that this posture has reduced the level of of insecurity in the state.
The CP in his reaction acknowledged the tasking work of journalists and promised to be carrying them along as partners but still appealed for their support and co-operation with pledge to ensure conducive environment for journalists to operate and the Chapel members carried along accordingly in state Police activities.
” We are doing best in insecurity war but credit must first go to God and governor Alex Otti who has been very supportive in ensuring that insecurity is drastically reduced in the state sustainably”.
