Assault on Journalists: Media Groups, JODER, LJL Condemn attacks on Journalists

By Akinwale Kasali

The Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER, has condemned in its entirety the abuse, unlawful arrest, detention and maltreatment of Saint Mienpamo Onistha, a Journalist.

JODER said the Bayelsa State based blogger is being persecuted for exposing inadequacies in  the Bayelsa State Government.

Onistha was handcuffed, brutalized and treated like a common criminal for discharging his duties as the watchdog of the society by disseminating information to the public.

Onistha is the Publisher of Naijalivetv.com, an Online Media platform. He was arrested for his report on the Bayelsa State Tribunal Matter against the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor and the story on Kogi State Isolation Center.

According to Onistha, he was arrested, handcuffed, tortured and maltreated, and asked to disclose where he got the Subpoena documents he used in writing the story against the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor.

Recounting his ordeal, Onistha said, “I was tortured with mosquitoes feasting on me. I was interrogated daily, on how  I got my information, forcing me to disclose my source.

“They alleged that I have offended the State government and I was going to suffer for it. I was dehumanized, maltreated, abused and starved of food. I was forced to make statement on duress.

“I was forced to apologized to the State Government under  duress, as I was beaten. I had no choice than to accept my fate and apologized to the Government, knowing that is the only way I can regain freedom.

“I had no choice, and I apologized to the Government under duress. I did not offend

anyone. I am just doing my duty as a Journalist”, Onistha stressed.

JODER’s Executive Director, Adewale Adeoye, who signed the JODER statement condemned the abuse on Onistha, calling on the Nigeria Union of Journalists,(NUJ) Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Human Rights groups to intervene.

Adeoye stressed that Onitsha’s travails is another way of gagging the media.

He added that this was just the same way Abba Jalingo was incarcerated by Prof. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State.

JODER called on relevant authorities to look into the issue to forestall a reoccurrence.

In another development,the Lagos Journalists’ League (LJL),  a group of conscientious journalists operating in Lagos has frowned at the barbaric harassment of journalists by policemen Tuesday night.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by the group’s acting Secretary, Enitan Olukotun, LJL queried the rationale behind the locking up, and defection of journalists who were designated as essential workers for being on the road after 8pm when curfew sets in.