Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has banned correspondents of The Sun Newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering the Government House or any government facility in the state. Umahi, on Wednesday in a live broadcast, declared that Ebonyi people were very angry with the press and may “unleash mayhem” on them. He expressed his displeasure with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), for failing to discipline their members.

The governor earlier ordered the arrest of Agwu over a report he did on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state. Within 72 hours, Okutu was arrested on the orders of Ohaukwu LGA Chairman, Clement Odah, over a report on the alleged military invasion of Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in the council area. Agwu and Okutu were later released after condemnations.

Umahi said: “I want to say that I am very displeased with the president and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and I am going to seize their allowances for two months because they have failed to discipline their members. “Ebonyi State is no longer a dumping ground. Only the other day, Chijioke Agwu (referring to The Sun Correspondent) wrote that Lassa Fever is killing Ebonyi people in droves and (a) few days back, Mr. Peter Okutu of Vanguard did his own.

 

“Okutu is fond of degrading Ebonyi State, and I don’t know why my officials have allowed him to continue to do that, because he is not from Ebonyi State. I want to ban him for life with Chijioke Agwu. I don’t want to see them anywhere in any Government facility. “We are not begging you to give us good reports, because the only person that gives good or bad reports is God. We are all accountable to him. If you think that Ebonyi State is a dumping ground, try it again.

“If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko. Let’s leave the court alone. Ebonyi people are very angry with the press and let me warn that I won’t be able to control them or know when they unleash mayhem on you, if you continue to write to create panic in the state. “I want you to write it that way, that I said, press in Ebonyi is trying to create another COVID that is more dangerous and that is to create panic in our people. The other one wrote that cholera has killed 20 people in Ohaukwu. If you try it again, I may not know when Ebonyians may react. This is important for the NUJ to know. “If you are an Ebonyi man or live in Ebonyi and you don’t feel our pains, it is a shame. Maybe, the press people claim they are untouchable. I have reported to the National President of NUJ, I have reported to (the) State leadership of NUJ and I have reported to the public. Now, the die is cast. May God save us, in this time,” he said.

Organisations have condemned the threats and arrests. The International Press Centre (IPC) called the targeting of pressmen as executive lawlessness. Its Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, said: “Arresting a journalist and getting him detained over a story is not an acceptable means of seeking such redress and the act of Mr Odah is unacceptable. “Coming after a similar arrest and detention of The Sun newspaper reporter, Agwu Chijioke, on the orders of the State Governor, David Umahi, who also featured prominently in the ordeal of Mr. Okutu, IPC is worried that the state government is fast becoming notorious for its serial violation of the rights of journalists.”

 

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) hasissued an ultimatum to Umahi. Its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called the ban on the journalists a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression and media freedom as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. “We will pursue appropriate legal action nationally and internationally against Ebonyi State authorities if this illegality is not reversed within 48 hours of the publication of this statement”, the body warned.

Umahi’s action and threats are further confirmation that Nigerian journalists work under hostile conditions. They are routinely arrested, attacked and threatened by government officials, politicians, powerful citizens and their loyalists. Three weeks ago, officials of the Delta State Taskforce on Environment beat up the NUJ Chairman in Delta State, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, and DAILY POST correspondent, Matthew Omonigho. Their leader, Kingsley Iweka, ordered over a dozen of his entourage to pounce on the duo while they were monitoring the level of compliance lockdown order at Otiotio Street in Uvwie Local Government Area.

Source: Daily Post

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Abia killing: IGP redeploys police commissioner to Abuja, probes killing

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had ordered the deployment of Janet Agbede as the new Commissioner of Police in Abia State.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Mrs Agbede would take over from Okon Ene who had been redeployed to the Force Headquarters.

He said the deployment of Mrs Agbede followed the unprofessional conduct and misuse of firearms by a policeman in the Ebem Ohafia area of the state that led to the death of one Ifeanyi Arunsi. The IGP condemned the unfortunate incident that happened on Friday, adding that it was glaring that the policeman was unprofessional in his conduct.

He condemned the resort to self-help by some people in the area and the destruction of government property and operational assets of the police. Mr Adamu also constituted a Special Investigation Panel headed by Anthony Ogbizi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

He said the panel would carry out a comprehensive investigation into the unfortunate incident. He said the panel will review police actions and inactions prior, during and after the death of Mr Arunsi and the circumstances surrounding the attack on the police station and damage on property. The IGP condoled with the family and friends of the late Mr Arunsi and enjoined the people of Ebem Ohafia not to take the laws into their hands.

He pledged that investigation into the case would be swift and thorough, adding that justice would prevail in the matter.

Source: Premium Times

 

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