IPC Condemns Police Attack On Journalists Covering Kano Tribunal

Operatives of the Kano State Police Command have been condemned by the International Press Centre (IPC) Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), following the attack on journalists covering the Kano State Governorship Election petition tribunal.

Earlier, police officers at the venue of the tribunal harrassed Salim Umar Ibrahim of Daily Trust and BBC Hausa Reporter, Zahraddeen Lawal and destroyed their tools.

Press Freedom Officer at I-CSPJ, Melody Akinjiyan, in a statement released on Wednesday, quoted the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, as saying that the unwarranted attacks on journalists on legitimate duty are dangerous to the nation’s democracy and a major threat to press freedom.

He said: “IPC’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), is extremely dismayed by the reported police attack on some journalists who were in the court to cover the sitting of the Kano Governorship Election petition tribunal, today Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

“While some went after a BBC reporter trying to seize his phone, others held Salim Ibrahim of Daily Trust and forcefully collected his phone, damaging the screen.

“The unwarranted attacks on journalists on legitimate duty is dangerous to our democracy and a major threat to press freedom. Such an act violates the fundamental human rights of the journalists.

“We urge the men of the Nigerian Police Force to be mindful of actions they take against journalists and not continually create an environment where journalists would be afraid to work and discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

“I-CSPJ, therefore, calls on the Kano State Commissioner of Police to take adequate and swift measures to bring to book those who assaulted the journalists while putting in place machinery to compensate the affected journalists for this inhumane treatment.

“We also call on the Nigeria Police Force to step up the training of its officers to be more respectful and courteous in relating with journalists and other media professionals. They should be reminded constantly that the primary responsibility of the Police is the protection of citizens including journalists.”