Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the State Commissioner of Police, Sylvester Abiodun Alabi for showing concern to the plight of the assaulted Journalist, AIT reporter, Damina Yusuf who was manhandled by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) recently.
The NUJ also commended the Police Commissioner for fulfilling his promise of replacing the lost items and picking up the hospital bill of the reporter as well as his promise to work harmoniously with the media practitioners in the best interest of the people of the state.
Consequently, NUJ suspended the ban placed on the coverage of police activities in the state by its members.
The union reviewed the earlier directive issued to its members to give total blackout to all police activities as a result of the series of attacks on journalists by some overzealous police officers while on official duties with the recent assault on the reporter of the African Independent Television (AIT) by members of the Rapid Response Squad in the state.
The Bauchi State Council of the NUJ decided to suspend the ban during its State Working Committee (SEC) meeting held on Saturday at the NUJ Press Center which was chaired by the state Chairman, Comrade Umar Sa’idu.
Members of the State Working Committee unanimously resolved that since the state Police Command has shown remorse, redeemed its pledges of settling the medical bills of the assaulted Journalist and replacing his missing tools, in addition to sanctioning the perpetrators.
“Therefore, media houses are advised to resume publicizing Police activities in the state, as the Union will continue to monitor the relationship between the union and Police” as contained in a statement signed by, Isah Garba Gadau, state NUJ secretary.
