NUJ Seeks Justice Over Assault On Journalists By DSS

By Editor

 

 

Yesterday Mr Timothy Agbor of the The Point Newspaper and Mr Toba Ajisafe of OSUN DEFENDER, narrowly escaped death when they were assaulted by operatives of Directorate Of State Security in the state of Osun.

 

As a result of this, the Nigeria Union of Journalist, State of Osun chapter called on President Muhammodu Buhari to as a matter of urgency intervened and demanded sanction of the erring officers.

 

It would be recalled that two operatives of the Department of State Services battered and molested the journalists who were covering a peaceful protest by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in the state.

 

In a statement by the Secretary of NUJ, Correspondent Chapel, State of Osun, Mr. Olaniyi Ajibola on Tuesday, described the treatment meted to the journalists as degrading of the agency status.

 

It was stated, that, “It is indeed imperative and expedient for us as a union to put issues in perspective and state our stance, irrespective of the degree of condemnations that have trailed the brutal attack of our member, Mr Timothy Agbor, of the The Point Newspaper and Toba Ajisafe of Osun Defender Newspaper by operatives of Directorate of State Services (DSS), Osun State Command.

 

“We were shocked by the intensity of disdain in which our member was treated on Monday, the bestial conduct of operatives of the secret agency in the past, which has been permanently registered in our psyches gave us a cause to be worried about the safety of our members in the state.

 

“While we are satisfactorily aware of the statutory obligation of the agency, as a security organisation saddle with the responsibility of nipping crimes in the bud through systematic and methodological intelligence gathering, we were taken aback by the negative interpretation of this germane role by the operatives in Osun.

 

“Obviously, the psychological trauma caused by the agency to millions of electorate in the state, in the count down to 2014 gubernatorial election could be better imagined than experienced, when the operatives in masks invaded Osogbo, the state capital with sporadic shootings and overt intent to intimidate and subdue the residents.

 

“Without mincing words, operatives of the agency in Osun Command, by their conduct over the years  appear to be totally bereft of their fundamental role in internal security arrangement, and requisite orientation of civil interaction, more importantly, the statutory obligation of the media in democratic setting.

 

Olaniyi noted, “It is against this backdrop that we call on the presidency to quickly rise up to the occasion and swiftly intervene through it’s appropriate organ, to save our members from further assault and intimidation.

 

 

“We demand for sanction of the erring officers without compromise, and a sound of warning to the command, as we continue to clamour for justice even beyond the shore of the country.

 

 

“We are convinced that our job is perfectly rooted in absolute conviction to serve as illuminators of the society, to make it fair, just, and habitable.