By Chinwendu Agoha (Governance Reporter)
With prospects of more media houses facing violent attacks by angry youth protesters, the Nigerian Guild of Editors has called on the Federal Government to ensure sufficient security protection for vulnerable media houses across the country.
The call was contained in the Guild's statement on Friday signed and issued by its President, Mustapha Isah, and Secretary, Mary Atolagbe. The Guild described the attacks on Wednesday on some media houses and practitioners as “unwarranted and condemnable.”
The NGE said: ”The guild notes that the media contributed immensely to the current democracy being enjoyed in Nigeria and should therefore operate in an atmosphere of unfettered access to information and peace.
“The guild recalls that journalists have engaged in reporting all sides since the #EndSARS protests erupted.
“This is against the background of their constitutional duty of informing the public of developments in the country, and they discharged such responsibilities even at the risk of their lives.
“Therefore, the call for adequate security for media houses has become imperative because of Tuesday’s attacks on Television Continental (TVC), The Nation Newspapers and Lagos Television. Other media houses such as Channels TV and Galaxy TV had to go off air temporarily as a precautionary measure".
The NGE stated that it would be dangerous to allow media organizations to keep operating in an unsafe environment.
“It is for this reason that the guild is calling on the government to provide adequate security for media houses to enable them perform their constitutional role of informing the public and holding leaders accountable to the people.
“The government should also consider providing compensation to the affected media houses to enable them bounce back and keep their employees at work.” NNL.
