The political editor of one of the popularly read Newspapers in Nigeria; The Nation Newspapers, Mr. Emmanuel Oladesu has been admitted in a yet-to-be disclosed hospital in Lagos State where he is set to undergo medical surgery to remove a bullet that pierced into his head.
Oladesu is the Political Editor of The Nation Newspapers and had gone to the venue of the Lagos State rally of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday to cover the event.
Others said to be attacked include New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf
While infonet9ja.com is yet-to-know what led to the crisis that resulted to fracas and sporadic shooting at the venue of the rally, an online video showed able bodied men wielding dangerous weapons.
It was gathered that police were already investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and International Press Centre (IPC) have condemned the attack.
In a release by the NUJ on the incident tagged “Stop the impunity against Journalists” read
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists condemns in the strongest terms the attack by gun men on some journalists who were covering the Lagos State rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
“It was reported that those that were affected by this attack were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.
“We regret that in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, journalists take great personal and professional risks to collect, process and disseminate news and information to over 100 million citizens in 36 States and the FCT and beyond. But sadly, being a journalist today can often be a deadly pursuit, particularly for those covering conflict and other dangerous assignments.
“Conflict areas and post-conflict areas are predominantly dangerous environments for journalists.
“Other dangerous assignments include investigation of corruption cases, coverage of political activities and elections. The number of journalists that suffer various acts of impunity across the country and attacks on media equipment and facilities daily is on the increase and this poses great danger to democracy.
“We particularly appeal to the Federal Government and all States of the Federation, to take effective measures for better protection of journalists in their assignments.
Similarly the release by Lanre Arogundade Director of IPC with the caption “IPC condemns shooting of journalists at APC Lagos Rally” read “The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria is highly concerned about the reported gun-attack on journalists who were covering the Lagos State rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
“According to news reports, among those that were affected by the unwelcome activities of gun wielding elements were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, NewsTelegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.
“The News Editor of The Nation confirmed the incident to IPC stating that Mr. Oladesu was hit by a stray bullet and was receiving treatment in a hospital although in stable condition.
“IPC hereby reminds all political parties that the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage obligates them to ensure the safety of journalists covering their activities including campaigns.
“IPC therefore calls on the Lagos APC to urgently take appropriate steps to apprehend the alleged perpetrators of the bizarre attack with a view to handing them over to the law enforcement agencies for immediate prosecution, also as provided by the Code of Election Coverage.
“IPC calls on all journalists covering the on going campaigns to keep themselves abreast of all safety measure. They should learn to stay away from political activities where rival gangs engage in show of force especially through display of weapons.
“Journalists covering the elections should also bear in mind that they constitute dangerous assignments requiring them to take insurance cover especially from their employees.
“IPC appeals to the security agents on electoral duty, especially the Police, to consider the protection of journalists as part of their responsibility as envisaged by and indeed provided for by the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.”
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