MUSA Jika, president, Amnesty Support Group and human rights has said his organisation will not allow the assault on the Jacob Onjewu Dickson, assistant secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Kaduna State Chapter, go unpunished, but will seek redress, even up to the World Court.

He stated this while reacting to the assault on a Hausa current affairs programme, Soro Haki Hukuma aired on Nagarta Radio, Kaduna on Tuesday.

According to him, the assault was shameful and uncalled for, which should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians.

“We are unhappy with the treatment handed out  on journalists. What happened to the journalist who went to cover polo is shameful and unacceptable.

“We would ensure we go to court over the issue and ensure justice prevails. We would not tolerate injustice,” he said.

Jika lamented that only recently, another Kaduna based journalist was remanded in prison for months after stringent bail conditions not commensurate with the charges were attached.

He wondered what the situation would look like if approval for state police was granted, when in the present federal police structure, state governments are using them to intimidate critics.

“As it stands what we are witnessing is the use of federal police and judges to intimidate critics, I am wondering what it would look like if state police was operational,” he said.

He also called on the National Assembly and government to come up with legislation that will ensure that journalists are protected.

– Nov 8, 2017 @ 10:18 GMT |