Media Rights Agenda, MRA, has commended the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, for his unequivocal condemnation of the recent attack on journalists covering a political rally in Kano.
It however urged Waiya to follow up his position with concrete action to ensure that the perpetrators were identified, arrested and brought to justice.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Senior Legal Officer, Ms Iluobe Adams, said: “Condemnation is an important first step, but accountability is the necessary next step. The Commissioner can demonstrate the seriousness of his position by ensuring that this case does not disappear without a proper investigation, identification of the perpetrators and appropriate legal consequences.”
A vehicle belonging to Radio Nigeria’s Pyramid FM, conveying four of the station’s staff, a journalist from Guarantee Radio and another journalist from the Daily Trust newspaper, was reportedly attacked by hoodlums armed with machetes and knives.
The hoodlums repeatedly hit the vehicle with their weapons, leaving the driver with injuries, while some of the journalists were hit by broken glass from the damaged vehicle.
The journalists were attacked shortly after covering an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Ms Adams noted that MRA welcomed Commissioner Waiya’s strong condemnation of the attack and, particularly, his recognition that journalists performing their legitimate professional duties must be protected and allowed to work without fear, intimidation or harassment.
Adams added that the organisation was encouraged by the Commissioner’s call on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice in accordance with the law.
She said: “We commend Commissioner Waiya for taking a clear and principled position against the attack on journalists and for recognizing that protecting journalists is essential to protecting democracy. However, we urge the Commissioner to go beyond condemnation by personally following up on the investigation and using his position within the State Government to ensure that the relevant security agencies take prompt and effective action.”
She called on the Commissioner to engage directly with security authorities to ensure that a prompt and transparent investigation is conducted, that regular updates on the progress of the inquiry are provided, and that the findings of the investigation are made public while identified perpetrators, regardless of their political affiliation or connections, are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Ms. Adams also urged the commissioner to engage with the management of Pyramid FM, the affected journalists and the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to obtain a first-hand account of the incident and determine whether additional measures are required to protect journalists covering political activities in the state.
Such follow-up action, she insisted, would send a powerful message to political actors, their supporters and other groups that violence against journalists would not be tolerated in the state.
