SAFAR 20 1431 A.H.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2010.
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NUJ apprehensive of police invitation of general manager, PRTVC, Jos
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has noted with apprehension and suspicion the invitation of the general manager of the Plateau state-owned media outfit, the Plateau Radio and Television Corporation, Pastor Yiljap Abraham, to appear before the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), “D” Department, Area 10, Garki Abuja, Tuesday, January 2, 2010, in connection with the recent Jos crises.
The GM was queried over certain news broadcasts by his station about the conduct of members of the armed forces and the police and the statement credited to the former Commissioner of Police in the state on the Jos crises that was carried by many other media organisations in the country.
Although he was not detained , but he was asked to return at a later date with a statement.
In a press statement in Abuja, the national secretary of the union- Shu’aibu Usman Leman, expressed serious concern over this development because of the preceding events before the eventual invitation.
According to Leman , PRTVC management had informed the NUJ that three reporters of the media house were molested by soldiers in Jos and were told that they (soldiers) were not happy with PRTVC and promised to “waste” them if they see them on the road again. This was an apparent threat to kill.
Again, on Sunday, January 24, 2010, the unfortunate incident re-occurred when reporters from PRTVC were repeatedly manhandled by soldiers. This led to a letter of complaint to be written by the corporation to the General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armored Division in Jos, Maj-Gen. Saleh Maina and copied the Police Commissioner in Plateau state , complaining of harassment of its staff by soldiers. Nothing was done about this.
The NUJ observed that the Nigerian media have often been blamed or severally criticized for many societal ills or shortcomings that had beleaguered Nigeria, in most cases unjustly , stressing that the union hopes that this hasty invitation will not eventually turn out to be a selective one.
The national secretary thereby advised the security apparatus, particularly the police in this instance to thread cautiously because harassment and intimidation of journalists under any guise will create more problems without solving any.
Leman contended that in Nigeria, the broadcast regulator is the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the august body has been responding assiduously to breaches of the Broadcasting Code whenever and where ever they occur, urgently, but with caution and tact.
The chief scribe of the union concluded by emphasising that NUJ will resist any attempt to intimate, harass or unjustly detain any of its members.
