H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Villa
Asokoro District
Abuja
Nigeria
Vienna, 28 July 2004
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute, the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, condemns the assault on a journalist in Makurdi, the capital of Benue state, north central Nigeria.
According to information provided to IPI, on 21 July, policemen, allegedly acting on the orders of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, H.C. Ugwu, assaulted Uja Emmanuel, a correspondent with The Sun newspaper.
The assault took place after Emmanuel, along with other journalists, visited the State Police Headquarters to discuss the earlier abduction from his home in the Ankpa Ward, Makurdi, of Johnson Babajide, a correspondent with the Nigerian Tribune. On the morning of 21 July, armed men had abducted Babajide, severely beaten him and then released him in Gboko, an hour’s drive from the state capital.
Significantly, the attack on Babajide is believed to have been politically motivated and followed an 18 July article in the Nigerian Tribune claiming that armed militias had been involved in a gun battle at the house of the Benue state governor in Gboko.
When the journalists visited the State Police Headquarters, Ugwu seized Emmanuel’s camera and tape recorder and threw them onto the ground. Ugwu then ordered his officers to beat the journalist. After the beating had been administered, Ugwu allegedly said, “Go and invite the Senate Committee on the Kwande crisis to also investigate me.”
The statement was in apparent reference to the fact that Ugwu had earlier accused Emmanuel of reporting that the assistant commissioner was failing to respond properly to the activities of armed militias in Benue state. Prior to the assault on Emmanuel, Ugwu had told reporters that the police were finding it difficult to control the militias because they were using sophisticated weaponry.
IPI condemns the assaults on both Babajide and Emmanuel. While IPI accepts that the police cannot always prevent abductions and assaults, the police force should, however, be prepared to lead by example. Assaults on journalists by police officers are not only reprehensible, and a breach of the criminal law, they also communicate to others that journalists can be treated with contempt.
Bearing the above in mind, IPI would remind you that the media play a fundamental role in society, especially when reviewing and assessing the work of the executive and its agencies, including the police force. Emmanuel’s assault reveals a blatant disregard for this role and will only serve to undermine the credibility of the police force in Benue state.
Therefore, IPI calls on the relevant authorities to investigate the assault on Emmanuel and, if necessary, to bring criminal charges or suitable disciplinary proceedings. In addition, regarding Babajide’s assault, IPI calls on the police force to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice. Finally, IPI invites Your Excellency to condemn the assaults and communicate to all state governments the importance of upholding press freedom in a democratic society.
We thank you for your attention.
Your sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director
