Columnists decry onslaughts on journalists

Source: The Guardian

The League of Nigerian Columnists (LNC), led by Tola Adeniyi and Yakubu Mohamed, has condemned the frequent arrest of journalists in the country.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its Secretary General, Anthony Kila, the body submitted: "The League is very uncomfortable with the spate of arrests, detention, and even abduction of journalists in the country."

Such development, according to the LNC, "is not worthy of a democratic country, and should be condemned in unequivocal terms by all."

The columnists noted that the country, with its 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, is old enough to be free of infantile ailing typical of a growing child.

"At 25 years of democracy, the LNC expect journalists to be free to report without fear or favour, and where they err, we expect those who feel wronged should follow civil and legal processes," they observed.

The LNC continued: "It is important to remind all that a country or government that cannot guarantee the safety and freedom of the press cannot be defined as democratic, and the onus of ensuring the safety and freedom of the media is entirely on the government of the country that wants to be described as democratic."

The body comprises columnists whose columns are published weekly or reasonably frequently in newspapers and magazines with a full-time editor.

Members include Ray Ekpu; Dan Agbese; Dare Babarinsa; Martins Oloja; Sam Omatseye; Ikechukwu Amaechi and Reuben Abati.