Insecurity: CSOs, media practitioners demand redeployment of Rivers’ commissioner of Police
Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and some media practitioners in Rivers State have called on Olatunji Disu, inspector general of police (IGP), to as a matter of urgency, redeploy Olugbenga Adepoju, the current commissioner of police in the state, for rising insecurity in the state.
Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and some media practitioners in Rivers State have called on Olatunji Disu, inspector general of police (IGP), to as a matter of urgency, redeploy Olugbenga Adepoju, the current commissioner of police in the state, for rising insecurity in the state.
They also decried continued harassment, humiliation and torture of some journalists in the state by hoodlums.
The joint group led by Prince Edegbuo of the Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) strongly condemned the recent attack on some journalists in Port Harcourt, describing the act, as a direct assault on press freedom and the fundamental rights of citizens to access information.
They explained that these disturbing incidents not only endanger the lives and safety of media practitioners, but also create a climate of fear and intimidation that disrupts the role of the media, as a watchdog of the society, noting that a free independent and secure media is indispensable to any democratic process, as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election.
Edegbuo maintained that if urgent and decisive actions were not taken that these attacks could set a dangerous precedence that could further weaken public trust in democratic institutions and discourage journalists from carrying out their constitutional role, as the watch dog of the society.
The group further explained that all relevant security agencies must immediately investigate the attack on Allwell Ene of Classic FM and Charles Opurum of Channels Television, all in Port Harcourt.
Also speaking, Kentebe Ebiarido of Friends of the Earth, stated that the Rivers State Government and the Rivers State House of Assembly should take proactive steps to guarantee the safety and protection of journalists and media organisations in the state.
Ebiaridor urged the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies to look at credible measures to prevent further attacks and provide rapid response mechanism for journalists under threat.
Green Issac of Relief International Africa, said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise the critical role of the media in electoral processes and work collaboratively to ensure safe environment for electoral coverage.
He tasked media houses to reinforce safety protocol and support mechanism for journalists, especially those covering essential duties.
This is as he reaffirmed the commitment of CSO’s to defend the human rights of journalists and other citizens as well as the promotion of democratic governance, and ensuring that the 2027 general election is conducted in a free, fair and peaceful environment.
“We have raised the issue of insecurity in some communities in Rivers State. The complaints are not new as there are insecurity in some flashpoints in Port Harcourt, like Garrison, Eleme junction, Mile 1, Mile 3 and Rumuola junction, respectively where hoodlums operate freely with police.
“The Police has failed us, because they have refused to build public relations with the communities that are supposed to give them information,” he said.
