Ijaw publishers warn against assault, intimidation, molestation of members

By Stephen Asaba-ase

The leadership of Ijaw Publishers Forum, IPF has warned against assault, intimidation, molestation and harassments of members by suspected persons in the general public.

Arising from a meeting on Sunday in Warri, the media professionals in a statement signed and issued by the group’s president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, said they would defend and stand with members against assault, intimidation and harassments by suspected individuals, no matter highly placed they may be in the society.

This is coming on the heels of the recent assault and intimidation of the group’s spokesman, Mr Ezekiel Kagbala by suspected members of Ijaw Youths Council in the penultimate week.

Lamenting on the sad incident, the media gurus said people should desist from assaulting and intimidating journalists for doing their lawful business, adding that nobody had the monopoly of violence and that the body would react to every assault and intimidation against members.

According to the publishers, journalists are Nation builders, being the fourth estate of the realm, and should not be molested and assaulted on every slightest provocation, stressing that the leadership would use the law as an instrument to bring such individuals to justice, no matter highly placed they may be in the society.

The IPF appealed to members of the public to see journalists as their friends, brothers and always protect and support them ,rather than bullying them and in most cases subjecting them to excruciating torture and dead.