By Bartholomew Madukwe

Lagos—The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, yesterday said it would partner with stakeholders to bring an end to incessant cases of attacks and killings of journalists.

NGE’s General Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Ibanga, who disclosed this at the launch of the Nigerian Journalists’ Safety Project, Lagos, pointed out that there was urgent need to ensure a safe environment for journalists in Nigeria.

According to her: “Journalists all over Nigeria are vulnerable. We are vulnerable in the sense that our profession demands that we interface between the government and the people on a daily basis. In essence, we are in danger, and if you like, we are endangered species. We are as vulnerable as the soldiers at the war front. The only difference is that they have the support of various governments.”

Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye, who was Chairman at the launch, noted that if journalists performed crucial functions in the society, they deserved the protection of everyone.

Ogunleye, in his opening remarks, pointed out that when journalists were intimidated, attacked or killed not only their media, family or loved ones suffered, the nation too suffered a collateral damage.

“For acts of repression against the journalist hit at the soul of Freedom of Expression, which includes the right to receive and seek information,” he added.

Ogunleye opined that journalism ranks as the most important profession in the world.

In his words: “Perhaps no other individual living or dead has emphasized the importance of the media and the great role journalists play in any society than the third President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson, who stated that the role of the press in checking the excesses of government officials is so important that he would prefer to have newspapers without government to government without newspapers.”

Treasurer, NUJ- Lagos, Mrs Ajayi Theresa, urged employers of journalists to ensure that journalists are sent on hostile environment training before they are deployed to conflict zones.

Theresa, who represented the Lagos NUJ Chairman,Mr Deji Elumoye, noted that when journalists are intimidated, attacked or killed not only their media, family or loved ones suffer, the nation too suffers a collateral damage.