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Mr Nagari Damina, brutalized AIT reporter
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Bauchi Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), has noted with dismay, uncivilized manner of the officers and men of the Bauchi State Command of Nigeria Police in adopting brutality as part of its tradition especially against the journalists.
The union in a statement condemned in strong terms the negative action of the Rapid Response Squad of the State Police command that molested and injured one of its member, Damina Yusuf of the AIT on Thursday 29th July, 2021 while covering students protest at the Bauchi College of Agriculture, Yelwa who was later admitted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
The Union added that “Based on this barbaric act of the police, the union has directed its members to suspend with immediate effect, coverage of all activities of the police in the state until the perpetrators of the act are fished out and prosecuted in addition to the proper payment of compensation and settlement of medical bills of the victim”.
The NUJ further noted with dissatisfaction “the way and manner in which members of the Nigeria Police from Bauchi Command that have always claimed to be partners of the Journalists in progress, brutalized, molested and harassed the AIT reporter and seized his camera, laptop computer, microphone with AIT logo, mobile phones, modem and wallet containing substantial amount of money among other belongings”.
The union however commended the management of the College of Agriculture Bauchi for it’s humanitarian gesture by taking the AIT reporter to hospital for medical attention.
The NUJ called on the Bauchi state government to consider the establishment of a standing panel of inquiry to hear cases of security brutality against citizens in the state.
In could be recalled that this is the fifth time in the last one year that Journalists were brutalized by Policemen while carrying out their legitimate duties in the state as contained in a statement signed by Comrade Umar Sa’idu, Chairman and Isah Garba Gadau,Secretary.
Meanwhile, the NUJ has called on all working journalists in the state to converge at the NUJ Press Center on Saturday for a peaceful protest on Police brutality on journalists in the state.
The NUJ in an invitation stated that the members will March peacefully to the State Police Command headquarters to express their displeasure over the brutality in the state.
