NEWS
NUJ President Canvasses More Protection for Journalists

Mr Christopher Iziguzo, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Thursday, appealed to the Nigeria Police to protect Journalists as they carry out their legitimate duties across the country.
Iziguzo, in a remark at a Forum for the Adoption of Framework on Police Media-Relationship and Safety of Journalists in Abuja, said that the safety of journalists was crucial to national growth in view of their role as watchdogs of the society.
The event was put together by NUJ in collaboration with Media Foundation for West Africa and other partners.
Iziguzo said that Nigeria should not toy with its newsmen because they were the light, conscience and watchdog of the society.
He emphasised the need for journalists and Police to work together, and regretted that the role of the newsmen as the oxygen of democracy was under severe threat.
“The Police and journalists should be partners in progress; we journalists don’t have guns; we are not criminals or terrorists.
“I call on the Police to protect journalists; they should see us as partners in progress for positive change. I want to call on you to accept us as friends and partners.
“When you see us out there, accept us as friends of the state and nation builders. We are very much ready at all times to ensure we engage in issues that will take the nation to the next positive level,” Iziguzo said.
Similarly, Mr Sulemana Braimah, the Executive Secretary, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in his speech, said that the relationship between the media and the Police was a crucial one.
“A journalist will often need information, protection and authentication of information from the Police and the Police sometimes rely on information of incidences in the country from the journalists.
“The Police also rely on journalists to get pieces of evidence to back their investigations.
“But, unfortunately, this relationship sometimes tends to be sour and is a sad thing to say that across West Africa, the Police usually tend to be the aggressors.
“Sometimes, it is not because the Police don’t like the journalists, but some journalists don’t know how to handle themselves, particularly when they are in public places.
“We have seen where journalists go to war front in Syria, Yemen and bring footage, I believe they follow certain procedures; so, sometimes it is not that Police officers are rude or overzealous; may be journalists don’t toe the line they are supposed to,” Briamah said.
In his remark, the Acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Mr Victor Egharevba, said that the safety of journalists was very important, adding that the death of a journalist during the protest by Islamic Movement in Nigeria, was a sad story.
Egharevba, represented by Director of Research and Statistics at NPC, Mrs. Stella Jubri, stressed that the media and Police needed each other to succeed.
Prof. Kwame Karikari, a professor of journalism from Ghana, said that the media and Police render very important services to the pubic, yet they were the most hated and criticised by the public.
According to him, the job of a journalist and Police requires high level of professionalism, adding that Police fight crimes and journalists expose crimes.
“Both institutions promote and defend democracy; there is need for them to work together for the overall development of the country.
“The media do make mistakes as well as the police, however, there should be a civilised way of addressing mistakes committed by journalists and Police officers,” Karikari said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that participants were drawn from the Nigeria Police, Media and other relevant stakeholders.
NAN reports that Iziguzo later called for a motion to adopt the framework in principle with Mr Amos Duniya of the Forefront Magazine moving the motion for the adoption of the Framework on Police Media-Relationship and Safety of Journalists.
It was seconded by CSP Ngozi Nwokomo, Officer in Charge of Public Complaints Bureau at the Force Headquartres, Abuja. (NAN)
NEWS
No Casualty as Three-storey Building Collapses Story Building — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency on Saturday confirmed that there was no casualty in the three-Storey building that collapsed at Ikpoh Street, Surulere, Lagos.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, confirmed the incidence to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The building came down at about 10.00 p.
m. on Friday night at No. 14 Ikpoh Street Surulere.Meanwhile, an occupant of the building, Mr Gervase Anyanwu, a buisiness man, told NAN that all the other occupants were able to run out of the building before it came down completely.
Anyanwu said that before the building came down, there was a large sound at one of its wings.
“Immediately we heard the sound, all the occupants of the building gathered at the mustard point, before evacuating for safety.
“No casualty was recorded,” Anyanwu said.
Anyanwu said the immediate evacuation of the occupants was “simply by the grace of God”.
However, NAN gathered from another resident of the street that the building had shown serious signs of distress before it came down.
As at the time of this report, excavation of the rubbles from the building was yet to commence, but all the relevant government agencies in charge of emergency had shown their presence at the site. (NAN)(
Media
Minister of Information Charges Advertising Agencies on Value Orientation

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) to support the Ministry in its quest to promote value orientation in the country. He was speaking at the 50th Annual General Meeting of AAAN, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Friday 21st September 2023
The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Public Communication and National Orientation, Sunday Baba, pledged the government’s commitment to delivering good governance.
The Minister, while acknowledging the immeasurable contributions of the association to national development, commended it for achieving the milestone of 50 years, adding that in the past five decades, AAAN has demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
professionalism and ethical standards in the field of advertising.“Advertising plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception, driving economic growth, and fostering creativity and innovation,” He said, adding that the dedication shown by the association has not only propelled the industry forward but has also inspired countless individuals and organizations to strive for greatness,” the minister said.
The Minister further explained that the Ministry is mindful of the critical importance of effective communication, a role that advertising Agencies play when disseminating information, promoting national unity, and positive change.
He thanked the Association for its unwavering commitment to promoting and upholding ethical standards in the advertising profession, which has contributed to the growth and development of the nation.
Speaking earlier, Steve Babaeko, The president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) paid tribute to the founding fathers of the association, saying the small seed they planted in 1973, has grown into a mighty tree, providing shade and job security for countless professionals across our great nation.
“Despite challenges faced by the industry, I firmly believe that the future of our industry holds promise. By standing united as members of the same family, we can navigate these challenges and emerge stronger,” he said.
He extended his gratitude to the numerous brands that they nurtured over the past five decades, for their unwavering support and patronage.
CRIME
Group Moves to End Cultism in Benue South

From David Torough, Makurdi
A Socio-cultural organization, Ede-ma Development Association (EDE-MA), has backed Edumoga Youth Movement (EYM) and Edumoga Youth Association in its efforts to abolish cultism in Edumoga District of Okpokwu local government area of Benue State.
EYM had recently embarked on a land cleansing ritual, which involved oath-taking by especially youths living in Edumoga District to denounce cultism following a bloodbath arising from cult killings among rival groups.
The cult killings had shutdown the Polytechnic town of Ugbokolo, Ichakwu and Efoyo as well as Amejo Council Ward in the local government area for over two weeks as rival cult groups went on rampage and killed members of rival groups.
.In a statement signed by EDE-MA’s National President and Secretary, Okoh Michael Agbam and Matthew Oboyi, on Friday, the organisation declared total support to the EYM in their battle but cautioned the group to carry out the initiative in accordance with the culture and tradition of the Idoma nation.
EDA questioned alleged inaction by the police in Okpokwu local government when rival cult groups reportedly killed about 10 persons including an innocent youth, which led to a protest.
The police hastily arrested the youth leader of EYM in charge of Ugbokolo, John Agboji Audu, following a petition with unproven allegations by a suspected cult leader in Benue South, John Okwori.
EDE-MA urged the police to do a background check on the petitioner and release the youth leader unconditionally.
It also called on the Benue State Government to set up a panel to investigate increasing cult activities in Benue South, in particular and the state in general.
The socio- cultural organization said, it had kept mute since the commencement of the cult killings because it had thought that security agencies, especially the police, were on ground in the crisis areas to restore public order and confidence.
“Our calm resolve not to immediately speak out was informed by the logic that doing so might be too pre-emptive without proper understanding of the underlying issues surrounding the violence, and of course, it could also be mistaken for outright bias.
“Secondly, we had also expected that the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police Force, are fully on ground and therefore ought to have quickly responded to such open criminality to restore public order and confidence. This was however not the case in view of the litany of violence in which cult groups openly chase and hack perceived rivals to death in broad day light,” Agbam and Oboyi said in the statement.
“We believe that the vacuum created by police inaction may have inspired protests that ultimately degenerated to mob actions by angry residents following the cult killings, which the Edumoga Youth Association (EYA) and Edumoga Youth Movement (EYM) eventually had to intercede and moderate to restore order,” it also said.
EDE-MA commended EYA and EYM for what it described as strategic initiative to end the malaise of cultism in Edumoga land by enjoining the youth, community and traditional leaders in Amejo, Okonobo and Ugbokolo wards to take oath not to belong to any cult group.
“We had restrained ourselves from making any public comment on the recent unfortunate cult violence that had rocked and literally grounded Ugbokolo Town and surrounding communities of Amejo and Okonobo wards in Edumoga District of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
“Secondly, we had also expected that the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police Force, are fully on ground and therefore ought to have quickly responded to such open criminality to restore public order and confidence. This was however not the case in view of the litany of violence in which cult groups openly chase and hack perceived rivals to death in broad day light.
“We believe that the vacuum created by police inaction may have inspired protests that ultimately degenerated to mob actions by angry residents following the cult killings, which the Edumoga Youth Association (EYA) and Edumoga Youth Movement (EYM) eventually had to intercede and moderate to restore order.
“We wish to use this opportunity to commend the resolve of both EYA and EYM for their intervention that ended the daily cult killings. We equally commend them for the strategic initiative to end the malaise of cultism in Edumoga land by enjoining the youth, community and traditional leaders in Amejo, Okonobo and Ugbokolo wards to take oath not to belong to any cult group.
“While the initiative or strategy of oath-taking to renounce cultism may not be fool proof, it is however a traditional method with proven capacity to eliminate or appreciably reduce the menace of cultism and other forms of criminality from Edumoga. In this regard, we enjoin especially the traditional rulers in Edumoga District to give their support and ensure that the exercise is conducted with utmost decorum and civility in line with our culture and tradition.
“As a law-abiding and development-conscious organisation, Ede-ma Development Association (EDE-MA) is worried that the police who are on ground in Ugbokolo and Okpokwu LGA, and who were helpless in the face of the rampant cult killings in Ugbokolo for over two weeks without making a single arrest suddenly leapt to action on the basis of a mere petition by no other person but an alleged cult leader, John Okwori, against Agboji John Audu and some EYA and EYM leaders.
“While we do not, and will never, support a resort to self-help, jungle justice or any form of criminality, we are surprised that the police responded to Mr Okwori’s petition in the manner they did when they failed to undertake any preliminary investigation of the matter, including background checks on the character of the petitioner.
“We are appalled that the police seem to have ignored about 10 homicide incidents and prioritised and prosperity everywhere,” the statement concluded.