There has been concern over security of media practitioners in Bauchi as staff of the Department of State of Service attached to Bauchi State Government allegedly harassed a journalist, Muhammad Bashir who works with government house Press Crew.
It was gathered that Bashir and other journalists were part of the team covering the commissioning of multi-billion naira upgrade of Yankari Game Reserve facility and solarisation of the tourism centre on Tuesday.
According to eyewitnesses accounts, the journalist was slapped three times at the scene of the event. It was gathered that Bashir was having a minor issue with one of the officials at the event. “They were having a little with a woman, before you know some thugs were flooding the area. He was explaining to them that he’s a journalist. He was slapped, again and again.”
Meanwhile, the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Umar Sa’idu and Isah Garba Gadau, condemned the action of the DSS official.
“The Council is 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.
“NUJ considers 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.”
The Union demanded immediate and thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities into the incident and the identification of the DSS officer involved.
It demanded that appropriate disciplinary and legal action against the officer if found culpable, in accordance with the law and relevant regulations. “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.”
It was gathered that Commissioner for Information (Shehu Usman) and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bala Mohammed, Mukhtar Gidado and the journalist were in a meeting with the Director DSS in the state who pledged to investigate the incident and take appropriate action against the officer.
Recall that this is the second time the official of DSS attached to Governor Bala Mohammed is threatening media practitioners. There was a case of intimidation and harassment involving an official of the Service in Azare three years ago who was threatening to “deal” with journalists covering an event inside the Palace of Emir of Katagum.
