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Press rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Media Rights Organization (MRA), and International Press Centre, on Friday condemned the March 21 beating of Nigerian journalist Muhammad Sani Adamu in Bauchi state by local police.
The CPJ called for authorities to transparently conduct investigations and hold those responsible to account. The CJID described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and press freedom, emphasizing the importance of media protections and calling the press a “constitutionally recognized pillar of democracy” that requires a safe environment to function properly. CJID also pressured Nigerian police to cover Adamu’s medical expenses.
The MRA told the Bauchi state police commissioner that he must act decisively to end attacks against journalists, including instituting appropriate training for police officers on the rights and constitutional duties of journalists, issuing operational directives on engagement with media, and enforcing disciplinary consequences for violations.
Organizations collectively called for greater accountability for police abuses and protection for journalists. CPJ said that attacks against journalists in Nigeria occur “with general impunity.” WikkiTimes Media Foundation, a local media group, said the violence was “not an isolated incident” and worried that it reflected a “recurring pattern of police violence against journalists.” CPJ has previously condemned other attacks against journalists in Bauchi state, including 14 attacks against journalists covering Nigerian presidential and federal elections in February 2023 and criminal charges levied against two journalists in July 2022 for political reporting.
Adamu had attempted to gain access to Eid Durbar festivities held in Tafawa Balewa Square in Bununu in northeastern Nigeria. He told press groups that he tried to show his press badge to police and identify himself as a journalist. The situation quickly escalated as two officers began to physically assail him. A group of at least 10 policemen then reportedly joined to flog him with sticks, cutting his head open.
A police spokesperson said Bauchi police planned to conduct an investigation into the incident and publicly release findings.
The attack reflects a pattern of reported state abuse of Nigerian journalists, including arbitrary detention and criminalization of reporting. The MRA had filed a lawsuit that resulted in a February 2024 federal high court judgment ordering authorities to investigate and appropriately punish all attacks by journalists. The court held that the state had violated Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which protects the safety of journalists.
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The CPJ called for authorities to transparently conduct investigations and hold those responsible to account. The CJID described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and press freedom, emphasizing the importance of media protections and calling the press a “constitutionally recognized pillar of democracy” that requires a safe environment to function properly. CJID also pressured Nigerian police to cover Adamu’s medical expenses.
The MRA told the Bauchi state police commissioner that he must act decisively to end attacks against journalists, including instituting appropriate training for police officers on the rights and constitutional duties of journalists, issuing operational directives on engagement with media, and enforcing disciplinary consequences for violations.
Organizations collectively called for greater accountability for police abuses and protection for journalists. CPJ said that attacks against journalists in Nigeria occur “with general impunity.” WikkiTimes Media Foundation, a local media group, said the violence was “not an isolated incident” and worried that it reflected a “recurring pattern of police violence against journalists.” CPJ has previously condemned other attacks against journalists in Bauchi state, including 14 attacks against journalists covering Nigerian presidential and federal elections in February 2023 and criminal charges levied against two journalists in July 2022 for political reporting.
Adamu had attempted to gain access to Eid Durbar festivities held in Tafawa Balewa Square in Bununu in northeastern Nigeria. He told press groups that he tried to show his press badge to police and identify himself as a journalist. The situation quickly escalated as two officers began to physically assail him. A group of at least 10 policemen then reportedly joined to flog him with sticks, cutting his head open.
A police spokesperson said Bauchi police planned to conduct an investigation into the incident and publicly release findings.
The attack reflects a pattern of reported state abuse of Nigerian journalists, including arbitrary detention and criminalization of reporting. The MRA had filed a lawsuit that resulted in a February 2024 federal high court judgment ordering authorities to investigate and appropriately punish all attacks by journalists. The court held that the state had violated Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which protects the safety of journalists.
The post Press groups condemn Nigeria police beating journalist covering Eid celebrations appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.