Attack of journalists: Ogun NUJ demands justice, issues 24 hour ultimatum to OOUTH - NIGERIAN NEWSORBIT

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Saturday, February 4, 2023

Attack of journalists: Ogun NUJ demands justice, issues 24 hour ultimatum to OOUTH

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker


The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, on Saturday gave the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu a 24-hour ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology to the two journalists assaulted on the street of Sagamu while carrying out their official duties.

The two journalists from the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA Abeokuta - Comrades Yemi Dalemo (Assistant Manager News) and Gbenga Egbepeju (Cameraman) were allegedly beaten up on Friday, February 3rd while doing a follow up story on the missing corpse of a yet to be identified lady whose family came to take for burial on Friday, January 27 only for them to discover that she had disappeared from the hospital morgue.

The corpse of the lady was said to have been deposited at the morgue by her family from Ijebu-Ode in October last year

According to a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of Ogun NUJ, Comr. Wale Olanrewaju and Comr. Bunmi Adigun respectively, the decision to call out the management of the hospital over this barbaric incident was reached at an emergency meeting of the Journalists in the state held at their secretariat, Iwe Irohin Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo Abeokuta.

The shell-shocked Union wonders what could have been responsible for such inhuman action if the management of the institution, as earlier claimed, has nothing to hide in the event of the missing corpse at the hospital. 

The meeting, therefore expresses no doubt that the wicked act is precipitated on the need to possibly create a climate of fear in sourcing for information and eventually impending the unravelling of truth about the trending story. The obvious reason their cameras and other equipments were seized.

Emphatically, the union has therefore made these demands  
"That a meeting between the management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health Commissioner and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council be possible under 48 Hours. 

"That the five security officers who assaulted the two journalists be immediately produced and subsequently handed over to the police for thorough investigation and appropriately sanctions in accordance with the Laws of the land.

"That an unreserved apology letter be issued to the NUJ and the two journalists assaulted, assuring that such occurrence will not repeat itself.

"That hospital bills of the two journalists assaulted be refunded while NTA Camera and other equipments seized by the management of OOUTH and left in the custody of the Divisional Police Officer in the area be released with immediate alacrity while damaged ones are replaced.

The Union realises that this impunity, if left unabated, emboldens the perpetrators to commit more crime not minding its chilling effect on the society, including journalists themselves. 

On this note, the union seeks for justice systems that vigorously investigate all threats of violence against journalists and send a powerful message to the society that journalists are not their enemies and should oppose attacks against them and against the right to freedom of expression for all.

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