The Nigeria Union of Journal­ists (NUJ), FCT Council, has described the intimidation and harassment of journalists by personnel of the State Secu­rity Services (SSS) as threat to democracy and the rule of law.

The union stated this fol­lowing the physical harass­ment and assault on a photo­journalist with the Vanguard Newspapers, Oluwagbemiga Olamikan, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, while je was tak­ing the pictures of Sunday Ig­boho’s aide.

In a press statement jointly signed by Comrade Emman­uel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, Chairman and Secre­tary of the council, respec­tively on Monday in Abuja, the union noted that it has become habitual for the SSS and other security agencies to harass journalists while doing their legitimate duties, and called for an immediate end to the use of force against journalists and media work­ers in general.

The statement read, “It is unfortunate to state that re­porters and photojournalists were barred from covering the previous court session. Coun­cil lamented that in recent time, violence against journal­ists has increased with the au­thorities directing aggression towards journalists, especially in terms of harassment, arbi­trary detentions of journalists covering events making most journalists to be concerned about their safety.

“It is worrisome that this is happening exactly one month after the NUJ launched a Five- Year-Review on press freedom in Nigeria starting from 2016 to 2021 where the report in­dicted state actors who have formed the habit of trying to gag the press always.

“However, council has pre­viously reported on the dispro­portionate use of force by the state actors against journalists during coverage with security operatives preventing audio and visual recordings of pro­tests and public demonstra­tions.” (Daily Independent)