IPC condemns army invasion of Abia State NUJ secretariat, demands probe
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has condemned the recent invasion of Abia State NUJ secretariat by Nigerian soldiers of Operation Python Dance last Tuesday. According to reports, “the military personnel reportedly beat up journalists at sight and destroyed their working tools, furniture, documents and other property yet to be quantified.”
Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement described the unprovoked attack as shameful and a clampdown on democracy, as the list of attacked journalists recently seems to grow daily with the worrisome trend becoming more condemnable.
“If the military wants to exercise its authority and strength, it should be channeled into assisting the media to make progress in a democratic era and not victimising media professionals,” Arogundade said.
IPC, therefore, called on the Chief of Defense Staff and Chief of Army Staff to thoroughly probe the incident so that all the personnel involved would be made to face the law. While this is being done, Mr. Arogundade said the military authorities should take immediate steps to replace all damaged equipment at the Abia State NUJ secretariat.
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