To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), [email protected] [2]

Nigeria Update: Journalists Union expresses concern

The Benue State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in north
central Nigeria has expressed concern over the recent spate of threats
against journalists in the state.

The Council in a statement issued on July 28, 2004 and signed by Ben Bem
Mnguityo, chairman and Owojecho Omoha, secretary, said it has "received
complaints from some of its members that they are intimidated and harassed
by some persons in the state to the point that journalists now fear their
own shadows."

The statement declared that "while the Union will not condone unethical
behavior by any of its members, it will go to any length to defend its
members performing their legitimate duties as watchdogs of the society."

The council also called on the Police Commissioner and the Director of the
State Security Service (SSS) to "safeguard the lives and property of
journalists." The statement came after the abduction and maltreatment of two
journalists; Johnson Babajide, a correspondent with the Nigerian Tribune and
Uja Emmanuel, a correspondent with The Sun newspapers on July 21, 2004 in
Makurdi, capital of Benue State.

Johnson was abducted from his home at about 6:30am GMT on July 21, 2004 by
armed men believed to be operatives of the government and taken to the State
Police Headquarters and later to Gboko, the hometown of Mr. George Akume,
Governor of Benue State, which is about an hour drive from Makurdi.

Johnson's ordeal came after a publication in the July 18, 2004 edition of
the paper that local militias were involved in a gun battle at the house of
Governor Akume in Gboko.

Emmanuel was also maltreated when he had gone, in the company of other
journalists, to the Police Headquarters to enquire about the abduction of
Johnson. He was ordered to be beaten by the Assistant Commissioner of
Police, H.C. Ugwu who seized and destroyed his camera and tape recorder.

Prof Kwame Karikari
Executive Director (MFWA)
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
Fax: 233-21-22 10 84

**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole responsibility
of MFWA**