The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), has expressed concerns over the continued harassment of journalists on essential duty by security agencies.
The association made the condemnation in a statement signed by it National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ismaila Y K, on Friday.
According to the statement, the journalist who are being harassed dared the odds to remain in the streets to report COVID-19 response across Nigeria in a selfless show of patriotism.
OMPAN further urged the federal and state governments to provide palliatives for journalists as they are the only other professionals standing side by side, and risking their lives together with health workers to spread hope.
The statement reads; “Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) has noticed with dismay, the highhandedness of some security agencies who have been caught on tape manhandling journalists. The only crime committed by these journalists is that they dared the odds to remain in the streets to report COVID-19 response across Nigeria in a selfless show of patriotism.
“It is particularly shocking that instead of commendation, the Nigerian journalists are being battered in clear breach of their rights as professionals going about their national service.
“OMPAN calls on the heads of Nigerian security establishments to reign in their operatives. The journalist is supposed to be protected and not endengered.
“OMPAN will like to also use this opportunity to call on governments at all levels to put together a financial stimulus to support the vital work that journalists across Nigeria are doing, especially with respect to the coverage of COVID-19 response. It goes without saying that journalists are the only other professionals standing side by side, and risking their lives together with health workers to spread hope.
“This is the much government can do now, to show that it truly values the work of media men.”
