The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Broadcast Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and civil society groups, yesterday, faulted the use of excessive force by the military in civil cases that ought to be handled by the Nigeria Police.
Specifically, the NPO, BON and the civil society groups, in a statement, condemned the increasing militarisation of the civil space, which has led to the use of excessive force by soldiers in cases that should ordinarily be handled by the police.
They agreed to refer the case of abduction of the General Editor of FirstNews newspapers, Mr. Segun Olatunji to Ombudsman for adjudication.
A statement dated April 22, and signed by Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), President, Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Chris Isiguzo, National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Maureen Chigbo, President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Musikilu Mojeed, President, International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria), Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC) and Adetokunbo Mumuni, Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) said the decision to refer the abduction of Olatunji to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) was taken at a meeting on April 14.
The statement added that NPO, BON and civil society groups expressed concern on the abduction of Olatunji, and demanded accountability on the part of government, noting, “the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), requested a meeting with the NPO, BON and the civil society partners on April 14.2024.”
According to the statement, the military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Complaints Commission, Ombudsman, if they had been aware of its existence.
“After considering this disposition towards the Ombudsman, the NPO, BON and the civil society partners have decided after reviewing the outcome of the April 14 meeting, to refer the matter to the Ombudsman for adjudication.
“The report of the Ombudsman process would be made public. We hope that the parties concerned will seize this opportunity to settle the matter in the interest of law, order and respect for the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution,” the statement stressed.