The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, Andoni Practising Journalists Association (APJA) and other media personalities have condemned in strong terms the unwarranted assault and flogging of a journalist by a soldier deployed to enforce the lockdown order by the Rivers State Government.

The incident, which occurred yesterday at the Ikokwu area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, involved a staff of Silverbird Communications, owners of Rhythm 93.7FM and Silverbird Television (STV), Nkan-kpo Johnson.

The lockdown was part of efforts by the state government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

The NUJ, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Stanley Job Stanley, and Secretary, Ike Wigodo, respectively, described the flogging of Nkan-kpo Johnson, a videographer attached to Silverbird Television as a barbaric act unexpected of any well-trained and well-behaved soldier.

“The flogging of any person let alone a journalist, by a law enforcement agent is not only condemnable and inhumane, but also a barbaric act unexpected of a well-trained, well-behaved officer, especially in view of the existing cordial relationship between the NUJ and the Nigerian Army in the state”, the Union said.

The NUJ, therefore, called on the Nigerian Army and other law enforcement agencies in the state to rein in on their men and put a stop to harassment of men of the Press who put their lives at risk to report government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The statement also urged the Army authorities and other security apparatchiks in the state to educate and enlighten their men on the role of journalists in the society, as well as cultivate the culture of reporting any erring member of the Union to NUJ leadership if we must sustain the good relationship with the security agencies.

On its part, the Andoni Practicing Journalists Association (APJA) condemned in strong terms the unwarranted and unprovoked assault on one of its members by a soldier of the Nigerian Army at the Ikokwu area of Port Harcourt during the enforcement of the coronavirus lockdown order.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Reuben Okwa, and Secretary, Francis Golden, respectively, the association said “We view the attack on Nkan-nkpo Johnson, a videographer with Rhythm/Silverbird Television as the height of unprofessional misconduct by a supposedly trained security personnel.

“We are deeply disturbed that a journalist carrying out his constitutional responsibility as enshrined in sections 35 and 45 of our constitution could be attacked by a soldier.

“The relationship between the Nigerian Army and a journalist is as cordial as that between the eyes and the nose. This further called to question the calibre of personnel recruited into the revered Nigerian Army.

“The importance of a journalist, the world over, at this time of global threat to the human race cannot be overemphasized. With all modesty, we are the foot soldiers in this fight against COVID-19, little wonder, we were taken aback by the assault on one of our own. The arrest of the soldier involved is not enough. We demand an unreserved apology from the Nigerian Army and more sever disciplinary action taken against him.”

On his part, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, and other top echelon of the military to avail the soldiers serving under them the right orientation and rules of engagement in civil-military relations to avoid such ugly situations.

He pointed out that the military and the Media were partners in progress in the task of national cohesion and advancement and as such were supposed to engage constructively and eschew hostility against each other, noting that it was important that soldiers on the field of operations understand the role of the Media in projecting the critical roles of the military and other security agencies in nation building.