The International Press Centre (IPC) has tasked media owners, political parties and the government to ensure the protection of journalists as they carry out their duties ahead of the 2023 general election
The Executive Director of the Centre, Lanre Arogundade, made the call on Monday in a press statement, while reacting to the attacks on journalists in the convoy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
The incident was said to have occurred in the aftermath of a visit to the palace of Oba Rilwan Akiolu by the All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential candidate of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The affected Journalists who are Adeola Ogunrinde and Omatseye Atsenuwa of Smooth 98.1fm were also said to have been severely injured.
Not comfortable with the situation, Arogundade through the IPC Communication officer, Olutoyin Ayode charged both the police and the Lagos State government to bring the perpetrators to book.
He said bringing the perpetrators to justice will serve as a deterrent to “those who may be planning similar attacks on journalists in the count down to the 2023 elections.
Arogundade who was also not also pleased with the conduct of DSS operatives said their actions amount to undue harassment and obstruction of a professional journalist on legitimate election duty.
The weekend attacks, according to him, bring to more than 40, the number of dangerous and life-threatening incidents involving journalists and other media professionals so far documented by the Centre’s Safety Alert Deskin the year 2022.
