Yesterday, thugs attacked a press
conference that was organized by Senator
Shehu Sani and other politicians at the
Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ secretariat
in Kaduna state. The state governor, Nasir El-
Rufai, has released a statement condemning
the attack and has vowed to prosecute all
those behind the attack. Read the statement
below
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said that
nobody will be allowed to stifle freedom of
expression. In a message to the Kaduna
State Council of the Nigerian Union of
Journalists, the government condemned the
mob action by hoodlums at the premises of
the NUJ on Sunday.
Having been briefed on the situation, the
governor expressed sympathy with The NUJ
and the persons that were harassed by the
hoodlums. The Governor directed that the
security agencies should investigate and
take necessary action against the hoodlums.
The Governor also directed security agencies
to beef up security at the NUJ secretariat to
protect journalists doing their duty.
A statement signed by Samuel Aruwan,
spokesman to the Governor said that “the
media must not be hindered from carrying
out their constitutional and professional
obligations. The government of Kaduna
State upholds the principles of free speech
and respects the freedom of expression.
“Politics should not be a desperate game.
And desperation should not be visited on
journalists or any citizen.”
Aruwan added that the government of
Kaduna State will not tolerate any attempt to
muzzle the press and innocent citizens from
exercising their constitutional rights.
