44 journalists were brutally killed during 2021, according to national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo.<\/p>\n
He also revealed that nbesides the 44 journalists kiiled in Nigeria, scores have been declared missing even as others are under serious threats.<\/p>\n
Isiguzo spoke during the first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and National Security Summit with the theme: \u201cNational Interest Amidst Insecurity \u2013 The role of the media\u201d, organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) held at Luxury Hotel, Lafia in Nasarawa South.<\/p>\n
The NUJ president said the country would be a better place for all if media practitioners were given the opportunity to practice without encumbrances, describing journalists as the oxygen of democracy.<\/p>\n
He expressed sadness over the way and manner journalists are maimed, brutalised while some were kidnapped or killed, adding that in 2020 no fewer than 200 media practitioners were killed worldwide.<\/p>\n
While appreciating NAWOJ for organising the summit for practitioners, Isiguzo said banditry and kidnapping are the mantra of the lead administration leading to the shut down of communication in states like Zamfara.<\/p>\n
The NUJ president said the primary responsibility of a \u201cresponsible government is securing the life and property of the people, adding that the most affected in the insecurity in the country are women.<\/p>\n
Isiguzo called on the corps marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to call the sector commandant of Nasarawa State to order for keeping the national president of NAWOJ, Ladi Bala, for four hours on the highway.<\/p>\n
He warned that the impunity being meted on journalists must stop, especially in this democratic era.<\/p>\n
While urging journalists to consider national interest by reporting positive occurrences in the country.<\/p>\n
Bala, in her welcome address, thanked the governor of the state for creating an enabling environment for all to live and work.<\/p>\n
She expressed worry over the rising spate of banditry and kidnapping, stating that insecurity has disrupted the diversification of the agriculture sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe diversification of agriculture is a mirage due to the increasing cases of kidnapping,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
44 journalists were brutally killed during 2021, according to national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo. He also revealed that nbesides the 44 journalists kiiled…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n