The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has strongly condemned the attacks on journalists and media professionals during the nationwide protest on August 1, 2024. Reports indicate that several journalists faced physical assault, harassment, and denial of access while covering the protests.
Incidents documented by IPC include:
- Lagos State: Benard Akede of News Central TV was harassed and barred from interviewing during a live broadcast by police and LCC officials.
- Kano State: TVC News Correspondent Ibrahim Isah was assaulted by armed hoodlums, sustaining hand injuries. A Channels TV vehicle transporting eleven journalists was vandalized.
- FCT, Abuja: Premium Times journalist Yakubu Mohammed was injured by police officers, and cameras belonging to journalists were destroyed. Jide Oyekunle of Daily Independent was arrested, and Mary Adeboye of News Central TV was affected by tear gas.
- Cross River State: Nigerian Tribune reporter Joseph Abasi-Abasi was seriously injured by hoodlums targeting a NUJ bus. Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch was beaten and detained by police before being released.
- Delta State: Journalists Matthew Ochei of Punch Newspaper, Monday Osayande of Guardian Newspaper, and Lucy of Pointer were attacked by anti-protest protesters who damaged their equipment.
IPC’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, criticized the attacks as a troubling repeat of history, calling for an investigation into the incidents. She emphasized that journalists’ rights to report on protests, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, must be upheld.
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