By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
The Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE) has described the recent attack on some journalists and media houses as unwarranted and condemnable.
Mustapha Isah, the President of the Guild and Mary Atolagbe, stated this in a statement they signed and a copy made available to The Reporters,an online publication in Lokoja on Friday.
The Guild noted that the Nigerian media contributed immensely to the current democracy being enjoyed in Nigeria and should therefore operate in an atmosphere of unfettered access to information and peace.
It recalled that journalists had engaged in reporting all sides since the #EndSARS protests erupted.
This the Guild said,was against the background of the Constitutional duty of journalists in informing the public of developments in the country, adding they have been discharging such responsibilities, even at the risk of their lives.
“Therefore, the call for adequate security for media houses has become imperative because of Tuesday’s attacks on Television Continental (TVC), The Nation Newspapers, Lagos Television and Traffic Radio. Other media houses such as Channels TV and Galaxy TV had to go off air temporarily as a precautionary measure.
“The media shouldn’t be made to operate in an insecure atmosphere.
“It is for this reason the Guild is calling on the government to provide adequate security for media houses to enable them perform their Constitutional role of informing the public and holding leaders accountable to the people.
“The government should also consider providing compensation to the affected media houses to enable them bounce back and keep their employees at work,” the Guild said.
