The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned an attack on Mr. Emmanuel Nwazue, a journalist with Abia State-based Afia TV, by security guards attached to a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), at Akanu Ibiam Way in Umuahia, Abia State on June 3, 2024.
Mr. Nwazue, narrating his ordeal in a chat with the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), said he was at the bank to monitor compliance with the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), on June 3, 2024 when he was attacked by two security guards working with the bank.
According to him, the security guards who accosted him while interviewing respondents around the bank area demanded that he hand over his camera to them and when he refused, upon explaining to them that he was a journalist, they began to beat him to the point of injury.
Efforts made by CJID to get the reaction of FCMB to the incident were unresponded as of press time.
CWPPF said: “The attack on Mr. Nwazue is a blatant violation of his fundamental human rights and also a disregard for the constitution of Nigeria which gives journalists the freedom to inform the public and hold power accountable. Such a condemnable act by the security guards is totally unacceptable.”
CWPPF called for a thorough investigation into the incident by the management of FCMB and that the two security guards be brought to account and made to face the consequences of their actions.
They also demand a public apology to Mr. Nwazue from FCMB, noting that attacks on journalists in the course of their duty have no place in a democracy and must be shunned by all.
The CWPPF is a group of media and civil society organisations committed to upholding democracy and good governance by protecting the ethos of whistleblowing, freedom of expression and press freedom. It comprises of 17 non-governmental organisations and media outlets.
