WRPC Fire Outbreak: NUJ condemns assault on its members

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta Broadcasting Service, D.B.S, Warri Chapel, has condemned the inhuman treatment meted out to its members at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, W.R.P.C, Warri on Tuesday 22 October, 2013.

A statement issued at the end of an emergency Congress of the NUJ, DBS Warri Chapel by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Felix Ekwu, and Joshua Okpanefe, expressed the displeasure of the Union over the assault meted out on a reporter, Comrade Ogheneruona Oyibo and cameraman, Kingsley Agho, who went to cover the fire incident.

The statement explained that NUJ congress of D.B.S Warri Chapel resolved that W.R.P.C should forward a written apology to the Chapel as well as take further steps to assuage the feelings of the affected members.

In the same vein, a former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovwaire and the immediate past Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djeba also condemned the assault on the newscrew of DBS Warri by Security Personnel at Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Warri.

Speaking to newsmen in Warri, the former Information Minister and former Commissioner said the assault is uncivilized and unhealthy for the practice of journalism in the country.

They urged the Management of WRPC to tender unreserved apology to DBS Warri and the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Similarly, the Press Secretary to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Warri, Mr. Linus Chima has equally condemned in strong terms the attack on the newscrew of DBS Warri.

Mr. Chima expressed regrets that “at this day and age some security personnel could stand in the way of press freedom in Nigeria”.

The governor’s aide on Media noted that the media had a sacred duty of informing the public, explaining that an attack on the media amounts to an attack on the entire society.

He added that the security personnel at WRPC overstepped their bounds as the DBS newscrew did not obstruct the fire fighting operation or stood in the way of officials at work while the fire raged.

Mr. Chima said seizing the camera of the newscrew is the same as taking the operational equipment of security personnel.

He promised to work with the union of the station to ensure that such attacks on media men do not reoccur, noting that media is a market place of ideas and is open to all to advance their views in a civilize manner.

Mr. Chima however sympathized with the management of WRPC over the fire incident and anyone likely to have sustained injury during the inferno.

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