SENATE CONDEMN JOURNALISTS ATTACK IN ONDO...Task IGP to intervene

The Senator representing Ondo North senatorial district and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress ( APC ),Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has condemned the brutal attack on party leaders and journalists by sponsored thugs during the State Congress of the APC in Akure over the weekend.


 The Senator  during  a solidarity visit to members of the Correspondents' Chapel in their office in Akure, Ondo state capital described the attack on journalists and Politicians as condemnable, barbaric and unacceptable at this period.



In his words, " It is most unfortunate that the assailants of the politicians also attacked and maimed journalists who were on their legitimate duties  to cover the congress persons like, Sunkanmi Elujoba of Adaba FM, Damisi Ojo of The Nation, Bamigbola Gbolagunte of The Sun, Olumide Abudu of Radio Nigeria Positive FM, James Sowole, of Thisday and the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists  were not spared from attacks".


"I solidarise and sympathise with the leaderships and members of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) in Ondo State and the Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ in the  State in this moment of travail and tribulation.


The brutal attack on journalists indicates a brazen attack on the Press. The day of the attack remains a dark day. It also represent a major setback in the advancement of principles of freedom of the Press and safety of pressmen in the society".


The Senator  advised the leadership of the NUJ to liaise and work with concerned authorities to forestall recurrence of such unfortunate incident.


Institutionalized measures should be put in place to protect members of the fourth estate of the realm at all times and in the course of discharging their duties..


While the Senator informed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP)  and the Ondo State Police Command  to swiftly apprehend and prosecute the assailants of politicians and journalists.


Saying, the task before the Police authority is quite easy because the assailants are known persons with known addresses. The Police is forewarned that any notion to look the other way or sweep the matter under the carpet will only embolden and encourage the political thugs to wreck more havoc and mayhem on the people of Ondo State ahead of the 2019 general election.


The senator  who expresses his sympathetic  concern's over the attacked journalists and wish them accelerated recovery, as they are still lying critically ill in hospitals.


While welcoming the Senator, the chairman of correspondent chapel and state chairman of NUJ,  Ojo Oyewamide and James Sowole respectively appreciate the visit of the Senator and condemned in totality the attack on the Journalists, saying the politicians have right to play their game as they want, however should spare journalJour in the course of discharging their duties.