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ACTION ALERT - NIGERIA

23 July 2004

Journalist assaulted, another abducted and tortured

SOURCE: Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lagos

(MRA/IFEX) - On 21 July 2004, Uja Emmanuel, a correspondent for "The Sun"
newspaper in Makurdi, the capital of Benue state, in north central Nigeria, was
assaulted and his camera and tape recorder were destroyed by police officers
acting on orders of the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), H.C. Ugwu.

Emmanuel was assaulted when he went to the Benue state police headquarters,
along with other correspondents, to investigate the alleged abduction of
journalist Johnson Babajide and his subsequent detention by police.

Babajide, a "Nigerian Tribune" newspaper correspondent, was alleged to have been
abducted earlier in the day by individuals believed to be acting on orders of
the state government and was reportedly severely beaten by thugs said to have
been hired by the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Emmanuel was at the police headquarters to investigate Babajide's case when he
was confronted by Ugwu. The ACP accused Emmanuel of writing reports on the
crisis in Kwande, a local council in Benue state, and of having insinuated that
the police state commissioner was not doing enough to control the crisis.

Ugwu reportedly ordered his men to "deal" with Emmanuel. They seized his camera
and tape recorder, both worth approximately N60,000 (approx. US$460), and
smashed them. The infuriated police officer also reportedly ordered his men to
beat up the reporter as a deterrent to others.

Babajide was released later the same day and narrated his ordeal to journalists
at the Benue state police headquarters, where he had been detained. He alleged
that Tahav Agerzua, the governor's chief press secretary, came to his house on
the morning of 21 July, at about 6:30 a.m. (local time), with over 20 thugs.
Babajide, soaked in his own blood, wept as he narrated how Agerzua and the thugs
forcefully carried him away.

"They took me to the government house, in Makurdi, where I was asked to wait and
see the governor," Babajide said.

According to Babajide, while waiting for the governor, he was tortured and
subsequently dragged to the police headquarters. He said the governor's special
adviser on security, Colonel Edwin Jando (retired), told him that they were
acting on orders of the Benue state governor.

Although no official reason was given for Babajide's abduction, there are
indications that the incident may have been connected to a news report published
in "The Sunday Tribune" about an alleged attack on Governor George Akume's house
in his hometown, Gboko. In the article, Babajide reported on a shootout at the
governor's house between armed militia involved in the Kwande crisis and
government security personnel.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- asking them to investigate the attacks on Emmanuel and Babajide
- urging them to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice
- calling on them to replace Emmanuel's damaged camera and tape recorder
- asking them to ensure that both journalists receive treatment in hospital

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Chief George Akume
Benue State Governor
Government House
Kwararafa Quarters
Makurdi, Benue State
Nigeria

Johnson Uzuegbunam
Benue State Commissioner of Police
Ogiri Oko Road
Makurdi, Benue State
Nigeria

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Ayode Longe, Media Rights Agenda, 10 Agboola
Aina Street, off Amore Street, Ikeja, P.O. Box 52113, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria,
tel: +234 1 493 6033, fax: +234 1 493 0831, e-mail: [email protected],
Internet: http://www.internews.org/mra

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
MRA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MRA.
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