ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, has condemned the arrest and detention of the Publisher of WikkiTimes, Haruna Mohammed and his reporter Kamal Idris, by the Nigeria Police Force in the state.
In a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman and Secretary of the NUJ in the state, Comrade Umar Sai’du and Isa Gadau, respectively, made available to journalists on Monday, they expressed worry at the manner the two media practitioners were arrested from a mere petition by a federal lawmaker.
While saying that the Union will continue to ensure that her members carryout their duties in accordance to the media code of ethics, The NUJ, however, warned that it will not allow politicians to harass its members with impunity.
The statement reads in part: “The Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, has noticed with dismay the way and manner in which some politicians connive with security operatives to intimidate and harass its members through various forms of threats and harassments.
“The union is particularly worried over the recent arrest and detention of the publisher of WikkiTimes, Haruna Mohammed and his reporter Kamal Idris, based on a petition by a member of the National Assembly from the state, Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi.
“The union wishes to reiterate its determination to ensure that journalists in the state work according to best practices and by adhering strictly to the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.
“However, the Union will not tolerate a situation where politicians who have issues to hide use security operatives to perpetrate acts of impunity against journalists. It is in this respect that we condemn in the strongest of terms the arrest and detention of the two Journalists in question because of their professional work.
“The union is willing at all times to engage aggrieved individuals or groups in dialogue to resolve any perceived acts of professional breaches by members of the Union in a manner that will be acceptable to both parties.”
The Union demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of the two journalists to enable them to continue their professional work without let or hindrance.
Meanwhile, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, has also condemned the “harassment and molestation” of Mohammed and Idris, by the Police in Bauchi State.
The statement was signed by the IPC Communications Officer, Toyin Ayoade, entitled: “IPC Decries Detention And Harassment Of WikkiTimes Publisher And Reporter,” and made available to journalists.
According to the IPC, the ordeal of the two journalists began on Monday, June 27, 2022, when they honoured an invitation from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) following a petition by Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bauchi Federal Constituency.
It said that the petition was concerning a WikkiTimes report of May 18, 2022 on the sudden death of Chairman of the All Progressive Peoples Congress (APC) in Bauchi Local Government area of the State.
IPC added that “the journalists arrived the station about 10am on Monday but after making a statement, they were clamped into a cell where they (the two journalists) alleged that they were physically assaulted. Despite the presence of their Lawyer at the Police Station, they were not set free until about 10 hours later and asked to report back on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 for further interrogation.
“The two journalists again reported at the SCIID Bauchi on Tuesday as directed but were promptly taken before a Bauchi Magistrates Court where they were charged for criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and cyber stalking. The court ruled that they should be held in custody until tomorrow, Wednesday June 29, 2022.
“IPC is worried about this trend of events and calls on the Police Command in Bauchi to avoid being used as tools of harassment against the journalists.”
The statement quoted the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, as saying: “Since the petitioner alleged defamation, the Police should have, in the first instance, advised him to seek legal redress instead of illegally detaining the journalists for 10 hours on Monday, June 27, 2022 and subjecting them to physical and mental harassment in the process.”
The statement further added that Arogundade said that it now behoves on the Police authorities in the State to ensure the safety of Mohammed and Kamal.
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