The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has strongly condemned the attack on Mr. Emmanuel Nwazue, a journalist with Abia state-based Afia TV, by security guards attached to a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday, June 3, 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, the CWPPF demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, accountability for the security guards involved, and a public apology from FCMB to Mr. Nwazue.
The coalition criticized the attack as a blatant violation of Mr. Nwazue’s fundamental human rights and a disregard for the Nigerian constitution, which guarantees the freedom of journalists to inform the public and hold power accountable.
Background
According to Mr. Nwazue, the incident occurred on June 3, 2024, when he visited the FCMB branch on Akanu Ibiam Way in Umuahia to monitor compliance with the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) earlier that day.
While interviewing respondents around the bank area, two security guards accosted Mr. Nwazue and demanded that he hand over his camera.
Upon explaining that he was a journalist, the security guards allegedly began beating him, causing injuries.
The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), which spoke with Mr. Nwazue, stated that efforts to obtain a reaction from FCMB regarding the incident were unsuccessful as of press time.
CWPPF’s Demands
In its statement, the CWPPF condemned the attack on Mr. Nwazue as a blatant violation of his fundamental human rights and also disregard for the constitution of Nigeria, which gives journalists the freedom to inform the public and hold power accountable.
The coalition demanded that the management of FCMB conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and hold the two security guards accountable for their actions. Additionally, the CWPPF called for a public apology from FCMB to Mr. Emmanuel Nwazue.
