The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has strongly condemned the assault on one of its members, Mr. Ndubuisi Orji, a correspondent with The Sun Newspaper, by Mr. Emmanuel Okoronkwo, a staff member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The incident occurred on Monday, January 5, 2025, at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, when Mr. Orji attempted to access the press center located within the secretariat to perform his lawful duties.
In a statement released by the NUJ FCT Council Secretary, Mr. Jide Oyekunle, the union described the attack as “irresponsible, uncivilized, unwarranted, and an affront to press freedom.”
“The NUJ sees this reckless, ignoble, and reprehensible behavior as absurd, ridiculous, and unacceptable in a democratic society,” the statement added.
Recounting his ordeal, Mr. Orji stated that Mr. Okoronkwo violently prevented him from entering the press center, citing alleged orders from PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu that journalists were not to be allowed into the secretariat.
“As I was heading to my car, Okoronkwo descended on me with a series of slaps and assaulted me until private security guards intervened. He even damaged my mobile phone and threatened to deal with me,” Orji narrated.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu denied issuing such an order, claiming that the party was on holiday and he was not present at the time of the incident. “I have made efforts to invite the affected journalist, but to no avail. I was not part of the incident, and there’s no basis for the claim that I gave an order to beat him,” Anyanwu said.
The NUJ FCT Council has demanded the following:
A public apology from the PDP and Mr. Okoronkwo within 48 hours, to be published in two national dailies; Replacement of the journalist’s damaged mobile phone.
The union warned that failure to meet these conditions would compel it to seek legal redress to ensure justice for its member.
The NUJ emphasized that any form of assault on a journalist undermines press freedom and the democratic principles upon which society is built.
“We call on the relevant authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly and hold the perpetrators accountable. Protecting journalists is essential to ensuring they can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or retribution,” the statement concluded.
(Independent)
