Bauchi NUJ blacklists police officers in retaliation for a violent assault on a journalist

The Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) ordered its members on Friday to immediately cease covering the state police command's operations.

The order was included in a press statement signed by Comrade Umar Sa'idu, chairman of the council, and Isah Garba Gadau, secretary of the council, on police violence against journalists in the state, which was made accessible to DAILY POST.

The Union strongly denounced the bad conduct of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives in the State who sexually assaulted and wounded one of its members, Damina Yusuf of the AIT, on Thursday 30th July 2021, while covering a demonstration by students of Bauchi College of Agriculture in Yelwa, Bauchi.

Later that day, the sufferer was admitted to Bauchi's Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).

According to the statement, the suspension of coverage of police operations would continue until the perpetrators of the heinous crime were apprehended and punished, "in addition to the appropriate payment of compensation and reimbursement of the victim's medical expenses."

“The Bauchi Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has expressed dismay at the Nigeria Police's uncivilized behavior in embracing violence as a practice, particularly towards journalists.

“The union strongly condemned the negative action of the State Police Rapid Response Squad against one of its members, Damina Yusuf of the AIT, on Thursday, 30th July 2021, while covering a student protest at Bauchi College of Agriculture, Yelwa. She was later admitted to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

“In light of this police brutality, the union has directed its members to immediately suspend coverage of all police activities in the state until the perpetrators of the act are apprehended and prosecuted, in addition to the proper payment of compensation and settlement of the victim's medical bills,” the NUJ stated.

It then expressed dissatisfaction with the way members of the Nigerian Police from Bauchi command, who have always claimed to be partners of journalists in progress, brutalized, molested, and harassed the AIT reporter, seizing his camera, laptop computer, microphone with the AIT logo, mobile phones, modem, and wallet containing a substantial sum of money, among other belongings.

The union, on the other hand, praised "the administration of the Bauchi College of Agriculture for its humanitarian gesture in transporting the AIT reporter to a hospital for medical treatment."

The NUJ then urged the Bauchi State government to consider establishing a permanent panel of inquiry to investigate instances of citizen violence.

Culled from:https://dailypost.ng/2021/07/31/bauchi-nuj-blacklists-police-over-brutal-attack-on-journalist/