By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Command of the Department of State Service (DSS), has assured that it will thoroughly investigate the alleged assault on a Journalist attached to the Government House Press Crew.
The assurance was given at the end of a meeting between the DSS and the State Government team led by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Usman Shehu Usman, following allegations that a member of the Government House Press Crew was assaulted by a personnel during an engagement on Tuesday at the Yankari Games Reserve and Safari.
The DSS also assured that at the end of the investigation, appreciate disciplinary action will be taken if the personnel was found culpable in line with the relevant laws of the Directorate.
Reacting to the development, the Press Crew commended the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Bauchi State Command, for his prompt and decisive intervention following the reported assault on one of its members, Bashir Adamu of the Bauchi State Radio Corporation (BRC), at the Yankari Game Reserve.
The Press Crew particularly appreciated the immediate intervention of the State Director of the DSS, who promptly convened a meeting involving the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Usman Shehu; the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado; the Chairman of the Government House Press Crew, Mr. John Habila Murai; and the affected journalist, Bashir Adamu.
The Press Crew considered the meeting a significant step towards resolving the matter amicably, particularly as both parties agreed to establish a standing liaison mechanism to promptly address future misunderstandings and ensure professionalism in the discharge of official duties.
It also welcome the assurance by the DSS Director that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and if found wanting disciplinary action would be taken against the officer involved.
The Press Crew acknowledged the solidarity and concern demonstrated by its mother union, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, as well as other professional colleagues, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Usman Shehu, and the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado.
The incident underscored the need for stronger understanding, communication and cooperation between security agencies and the media. While security agencies have the responsibility to protect lives and property, Journalists must equally be allowed to perform their constitutional and professional duties without intimidation, harassment or physical assault.
The Government House Press Crew assured that it remains committed to constructive engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders in promoting mutual respect, professionalism and peaceful cooperation as partners in progress.
Reacting to the development vide a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Umar Sa’idu and Secretary, Isah Garba Gadau, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, strongly condemned the assault, intimidation and threat against Journalists covering an official engagement at the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State on Tuesday.
The incident, which reportedly occurred during the commissioning of a 500KVA solar power station at the game reserve, involved a Department of State Services (DSS) officer attached to a visiting delegation of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The Council was particularly disturbed by reports that the officer allegedly slapped Bashir Adamu of Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) three times while he was performing his legitimate journalistic duties despite being properly identified as a member of the Bauchi State Government House Press Crew.
The NUJ Bauchi State Council considered the actions of the DSS officer as unacceptable, particularly as the journalists reportedly neither retaliated nor engaged the officer in any physical confrontation instead referred the matter to their leadership for appropriate action.
While the Council recognised the responsibilities of security agencies in maintaining order and protecting public officials, such responsibilities must be exercised within the law and with full respect for the rights and dignity of accredited Journalists carrying out legitimate professional duties.
The NUJ Bauchi State Council therefore demanded for immediate and thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities into the incident and the identification of the DSS officer involved.
Appropriate disciplinary and legal action against the officer if found culpable, in accordance with the law and relevant regulations and an assurance from the DSS and other security agencies that Journalists covering official engagements in Bauchi State will be protected from intimidation, harassment, assault and other forms of unlawful interference.
The NUJ also urged authorities organising official events should ensure that security personnel deployed to such events are properly briefed on the roles and rights of accredited Journalists.
The Council viewed the safety of Journalists as non-negotiable and will not remain silent whenever its members are subjected to assault or intimidation in the course of their legitimate professional duties.
The NUJ Bauchi State Council called on all security agencies to uphold professionalism and respect for the freedom of the press, which remains fundamental to democracy and accountable governance.
The Council also urged its members to remain professional, law-abiding and committed to responsible journalism while carrying out their duties.
In the same vein, Management of the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) has condemned in the strongest terms the brutal assault metted to one of its staff members attached to the Bauchi State Government House by a security personnel reportedly of the State Security Service during an official state function at the Yankari Game Reserve.
The Management described the incident on its staff, Bashir Adamu, as “barbaric, unacceptable and a serious affront to press freedom, the dignity of the media profession and the fundamental human rights of a Journalist carrying out his legitimate official duties.”
While acknowledging the legitimate responsibilities of security agencies to protect public officials and maintain order at official functions, such responsibilities must be exercised within the bounds of the law, professionalism and respect for fundamental human rights. Security duties cannot be used as a justification for brutality against members of the press who are performing legitimate professional assignments.
The BRC Management therefore joined the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, in its call for an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Management further called for the identification of the officer involved and the implementation of appropriate disciplinary sanctions if found culpable, in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the service.
It stressed that, “It is important to remind the security establishment that acts of intimidation, harassment and physical assault against Journalists are practices that should have long disappeared with the advent and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. A democratic environment requires mutual respect between security agencies, government institutions and the media.”
The Management of BRC expressed its solidarity with the affected staff and assures him and all members of staff that the Corporation will continue to defend their right to carry out their professional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or unlawful interference.
BRC also appealed to the relevant authorities to strengthen proper briefings and clearly defined inter-agencies relationship during public function particularly on media access.
The Management assures that it remains committed to the principles of press freedom, professional journalism, human dignity and democratic accountability, and expects all institutions of government to uphold these values, as contained in a statement signed by Umar Muhammad Shira, Managing Director.
Leave a Comment