The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has apologized to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for the assault on its members during the #BringBackSim protests on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju tendered this apology to the leadership and members of the NUJ Rivers State Council on Friday, April 11, 2025 when he visited the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre (Rivers State Secretariat of the NUJ) at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Addressing the State Working Committee (SWC) of the NUJ Rivers State Council, presided over by its Chairman, Paul Bazia, the Commissioner of Police said he received the news of the assault with shock, pointing out that he was in Abuja that Monday attending the grand finale of the 2025 National Police Day.

He said when the news broke, he called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) concerned to ascertain the cause of the matter that warranted such action, and with no evidence was produced to have warranted such action, he ordered that he (DPO) be relieved of his duties.

“Journalists were the first group I hosted on resumption to duties as CP, to show how dearly we treasure their importance. Since then, we have been working together.”

“I am, therefore, here with my Management Team to apologize for what happened that day. Please we are sorry and l promise it won’t repeat itself.”

“As I’m talking to you, the DPO in-charge of that area has been dropped because he failed to produce evidence that warranted such action and officers identified in the video are currently facing punishment.”

Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ Rivers State Council, Paul Bazia said initially he wanted to ignore the rumour surrounding the assault on journalists given the relationship between the Police and the Press, but when he saw the video, where journalists were running under serious tear gas smoke, he couldn’t wish that away.

He reminded the Commissioner of Police that journalists were there to perform their statutory duties just like the Police, so there was no reason for such treatment by his men, requesting that the officers that perpetrated this evil be fished out and punished accordingly.

“…the journalists have the duty to cover the protest, the Police has the duty to protect lives and properties just like the protesters also have right to protest.” 

“We are pleased that the DPO has been removed, but we also want the officers that practically committed the offence to be identified and punished appropriately.”

He added that the Commissioner of Police or the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) can as well put a call across to the Council if any journalist is found conducting himself in an unprofessional manner.

He suggested that the Commissioner of Police engage his officers in a reorientation talk for proper conduct while performing their duties outside.