BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT—  NIGERIA Union of Journalists, NUJ, yesterday, condemned Sunday’s attack on journalists by  hoodlums in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
State NUJ council, in a statement, condemned the Police for standing by while media men were being attacked on the said day.

The statement by the state NUJ  Chairman, Mr Dakubo Opaka, reminded security operatives and the political class that journalists were not politicians, stressing that they should not be objects of attacks.
NUJ said, “Journalists are professionals carrying out their duties as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other international charters of which Nigeria is a signatory. Journalists are not interested parties in the political crisis currently rocking Rivers State.

“We condemn the attack on journalists working with Channels Television on Sunday, January 19, 2014, at Bori, headquarters of Khana council of Rivers State, during the botched Save Rivers Movement rally. We recall similar attacks on journalists working with TV Continental, Sun Newspapers, RSTV, Rhythm 93.7 FM, among others.

“We find this situation unacceptable and urge political parties, groups and their followers, to engage in their activities and leave journalists alone to practise their chosen profession. We also condemn a situation where policemen and other security agents, attack journalists or even stand-by and watch while journalists are being attacked by hoodlums.

“We call on the Police and other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians in Rivers State, irrespective of their political affiliations.”