Politics
Coalition condemns assault, harassment of Pinnacle Daily editor in
THE Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the assault, harassment and destruction of phones belonging to the editor of Pinnacle Daily newspaper, Sunday Michael Ogwu, during a demolition exercise in Lugbe, Abuja.
The coalition, a group of media and civil society organisations and law firms committed to upholding democracy and good governance, made its position in a statement it issued on Thursday, August 20, signed by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on behalf of other members.
The ICIR had, on Wednesday, reported that Ogwu, in a voice recording, accused police officers attached to the Lugbe Police Station of beating him and seizing his phone while he was documenting a demolition operation.
Ogwu said he encountered the exercise while taking an evening stroll and began recording what he described as a joint operation involving police officers and members of a vigilante group. He said the officers, led by CSP Ukorobo Uchenna C, the DPO Lugbe Police Division, seized his phone and ordered that he be assaulted.
“I was badly beaten. Eventually, they said they would take me to the station, and then they asked me to leave,” Ogwu said.
In another video posted on his Facebook page, Ogwu said the officers asked whether he had permission to cover the exercise.
He said he told them he did not need permission to document the operation because it was taking place in public.
“I told them this is a public function and I don’t think what you are doing is illegal. If you’re carrying out proper work, you shouldn’t be afraid a journalist is covering it. Instead, I was given several strokes and was asked to leave,” he said.
When contacted, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said officers involved in the incident could not have been attached to the FCT Police Command, adding that the police “don’t even get involved in demolitions” and that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was the appropriate authority to contact about the exercise.
Adeh, however, urged Ogwu to contact her personally so the officers involved could be traced and advised him to file a formal report.
Coalition demands action against officers
In its statement Wednesday, the coalition further described the incident as an attack on press freedom and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the FCT Police Command to investigate the matter.
It demanded the identification and discipline of the police officers and VGN members involved while also demanding compensation for Ogwu’s damaged phones and payment of his medical expenses arising from the assault.
The group further demanded a public apology to Ogwu and the management of Pinnacle Daily.
CWPPF urged the FCT Police Command to direct police divisions across the territory to stop intimidating, harassing and assaulting journalists covering public events.
“Documenting public operations conducted by state agents is a constitutionally protected right, not a criminal offence,” the coalition stated.
It added that the alleged use of an electric cable to assault a journalist for documenting a public operation was “deeply unsettling and unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, The ICIR reported that the incident comes amid growing concerns about the safety of journalists in Nigeria.
In May, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) documented at least 91 journalists who had been arrested, physically attacked or harassed across Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Abuja recorded the highest number of incidents, with 30 journalists targeted, including six arrests, 22 physical attacks and three harassment cases.