The President of Centre for Change, Joe Okei-Odumakin has called on security operatives to stop the harassment of Journalists
She made the call on Monday, July 26, 2021 in response to the arrest of the publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore by security operatives.
According to the statement, Sowore was sighted earlier in the day around the court premises probably to attend the scheduled court session on the fundamental rights abuse case involving five activists arrested at Dunamis Church, Abuja.
It will be recalled that Justice Obiora Egwuatu had directed the Department of State Security Services (DSS), to produce in court on Monday, the five persons arrested for wearing the ‘Buhari Must Go’ t-shirts to the church recently.
Reports have it that Sowore was released later in the day by the security operatives.
The statement read further, “These must stop. The freedoms, liberties, and fundamental rights of citizens are not at the whims and caprices of security operatives or of the government they purport to work for.
“Security operatives are public servants who owe their authority to the Constitution and not to the government of the day.
“Governments come and go but citizens remain the boss of those in government at all times.
“Regardless how sensitive a trial may be, the people deserve to be informed of goings-on. Whether the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, or that of the Yoruba self-determination activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, government must not muzzle the media.
“Sowore was accosted as he live streamed activities around the court vicinity. His phone was also seized from him before he was whisked away.
“The camera belonging to Brock Media was equally snatched from the journalist, Yusuf Rock, while the journalist narrowly escaped arrest.
“All these harassment of journalists performing their lawful duty of informing the populace must cease.
“The media have been saddled with the responsibility of holding government accountable to the people.
“This duty they must be allowed to perform without shackles and hindrances of any sort.
“Once again it bears repeating that this is a democracy and a nation under law, not a dictatorship or banana republic, the statement concluded.
