BY:David Uka, Abakaliki
A female pregnant Journalist, Mrs.Grace Egbo of Tribune Newspaper has been attacked by a member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Nkemka Okoro Omuma.
This attracted the rage of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ebonyi State chapter who condemned the act.
The Union condemned the attacks and assaults on Mrs Egbo and others in the State at the Assembly complex, Abakaliki.
In a communique issued in Abakaliki and endorsed by the Secretary Nnamdi Akpa, the Union expressed shocked that a Lawmaker, Nkemka Okoro Onuma, could alongside his thugs attack and assault Journalists who were in the House of Assembly to cover screening of Commissioner nominees of the state Governor.
The communique reads:
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Council, wishes to condemn in strong terms the attacks, assaults and threats on its members, namely; a female pregnant Journalist with the Tribune newspaper, Mrs Grace Egbo; The Nigerian Pilot Correspondent and Secretary of Correspondents’ Chapel, Samson Nwafor; and The Nation Correspondent, Ogochukwu Anioke and others at the Assembly complex on 30th July 2019.”
“The Council was shocked that a Lawmaker, Nkemka Okoro Onuma, could alongside his thugs attack and assault Journalists who were in the House of Assembly to cover screening of Commissioner nominees of the state Governor.”
According to the communique the leadership of Union has demanded the state House of Assembly to compel the member representing the Afikpo South West state constituency, Nkemka Okoro Onuma, to within three days tender unreserved apologies to members of NUJ in the state; failure of which may leave the Union with no option than to direct their members to boycott the activities of the House.
“By this directive, all Media Houses in the state are mandated to withdraw their Reporters and camera men posted to the Assembly.”
The Communique further urged the security agencies in the state to ensure safety of Journalists working in the state.
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