Human Rights Group Condemns Police Abduction Of Four Journalists ln Warri .....wants erring officers brought to book, accuses police of attempting to gag free press

Press Statement
27th May, 2020

Human Rights Group Condemns Police Abduction Of Four Journalists ln Warri

.....wants erring officers brought to book, accuses police of attempting to gag free press

We wish to strongly condemn the unlawful arrest and detention of four journalists in Warri, Delta State by Nigerian police attached to Warri Area command.  The arrest of the four journalists were unlawful ,illegal, barbaric and unprecedented.The arrests were in violation of the right of the affected journalists.

The Police has thrown professionalism and discipline into the wind. You storm NUJ and abducted two journalists unlawfully,because you couldn't see someone you went for, and NUJ sent other two journalists to effect their release you arrested them again. This shows the hight of police lawlessness in the country.

The police is expected to have some levels of respect for the journalistic profession. The police should have invited them for questioning if it felt they have erred in carrying out their legitimate duties. Severally reporters have suffered similar humiliations from police in the country, and this is no longer acceptable as it is an attempt to intimidate reporters, silent public advocacy and free press.

The journalists have constitutional rights to practice their profession but if they erred in the cause of doing their business, they can be invited for clarification or apology and retraction and not to be arrested and detained unlawfully.
The police should know that every journalist has a right to source for story and decide not to disclose their souces. The right of free press should not be trampled under feet. Freedom of speech should not be gagged. The police authorities should reeducate their men on professionalism and discipline. Declaring war against lawful citizens on slightest provocations is condemnable and it makes police a baby force.

It is our demand that the inspector General of police and the police commissioner of Delta State should swing into action and bring to book the police officers who invaded Nigeria Union Of Journalists Office in Warri and unlawful abducted two journalists because they missed their target and in the same vein detained another two journalists who went for the bail of the abducted journalists, without a further delay as to serve as a detterent to other unguided police officers.

Signed
Comrade Ozobo Austin
Niger Delta Environmental and right activist and national president Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI.