By CrossRiverWatch admin
The Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned the attack on the AIT crew and destruction of their working equipment, including the organization’s camera by some suspected cultists during a protest organized by the administrative staff and students of the University of Calabar in Cross River State.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Vice President of the Union in South South, Comrade Edward Ogude said the attack on the armless journalists who went to cover an assignment in a respected institution like UNICAL was unwarranted even in the presence of security personnel of the University.
The Union called on the University managment and the Cross River State government to provide needed security for journalists while doing their legitimate duties in the state.
“The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, South-South has condemned in very strong terms the attacks on journalists and destruction of a camera belonging to AIT, Calabar when the crew went to legitimately cover a protest at the University of Calabar on Monday.
“We call on the University Management the Cross River State Government, and the security agencies to urgently intervene in the matter and fish the culprits out with a view to dishing out appropriate punishment.
“NUJ also call on the general public to assist Journalists in the course of their assignment as the Union will continue to protect its members at all times.
“The Union warned that no amount of intimidation will stop journalists from carrying out their legitimate roles of educating, entertaining and informing the public.” he said.
Also, a Calabar based Human Rights lawyer, Barrister Utum Eteng while condemning the attack by some suspected cultists on AIT crew at the University of Calabar, wondered what the University community that produced eminent personalities all over the world is degenerating to.
He called on the security agencies to dig deep into the matter and allow the law to take its course on the perpetrators of the act.
“My worry is that, what is the University of Calabar turning to and while the unwarranted attack on the AIT crew and their equipment?
“I urge the security agencies to dig deep into the matter and allow justice to prevail.” he said.
Cross River State Correspondent of Africa Independent Television AIT, Rasheed Olanrewaju and his cameraman, Charles Ekpe, were on Monday attacked and their camera and other equipment damaged by some suspected cultists around the University of Calabar Senate building when some administrative staff, students and contractors of the University staged a protest over what they described as “inhuman treatment” bothering on their welfare by the University management.
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