The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the attack on reporters attached to the Arise Television by political thugs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Recall that on January 2, 2026, Arise TV crew engaged in a live interview at a hotel in Port Harcourt were attacked by political thugs who carted away some of their broadcast equipment.
The NUJ came up with the position on Friday evening at a press conference held at the state council secretariat in Port Harcourt.
National Vice President, Zone F, Mr Opaka Dokubo, who represented the national president of the NUJ called on political actors to accord journalists going about their professional duties their own space while they engage in politicking.
Opaka maintained that journalists by their calling are apolitical, hence politicians should not drag them into their partisan political squabbles.
“There is no reason for anybody to target any journalist. Journalists have a right to be protected while discharging their duties. We are like water, we have no enemies .
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“We work for the peace and progress of our nation, and we consider our duty a sacred one. We do not take sides in any issue. Ours is to provide a common platform for anyone who has any issue to address,” he stressed.
While commending the police for responding promptly to the distress call by the journalists, Opaka however, urged them to bring the culprits to justice.
“None of the perpetrators of the heinous act should be left unpunished. We want to hear about their arrest. We want hear about their prosecution. We want to hear and see it happen” , he urged
The president pointed out that it is only by so doing that future occurrence could be forestalled and build confidence that such would not happen again.
He also used the occasion to admonish journalists to be safety conscious as we head into serious political season ahead of the election year, 2027, stressing that it only those alive that can do stories that attract banner headlines.
