Adebayo Adenrele
The Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zone B South West, Nigeria, Comrade Ronke Afebioye-Samo has advocated for a special protection and respect for media practitioners to ensure their safety while discharging their duties for the benefit of the society.
In a statement signed and made available to Newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, to commemorate the 2022 International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, she implored the concerned authorities to make efforts to implement the resolutions/recommendations of the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 which urged Member States to implement definite measures to counter the culture of impunity against journalists.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a UN-recognised Day, usually observed on 2nd November every year and set aside to commemorate the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2nd November, 2013.
She added that Journalists, as the watchdogs of the society, play a pivotal role in promoting and preserving good governance which leads to a sustainable democracy and fosters a sane environment, free of rancour and prejudice.
She therefore called on the government to ensure that all perpetrators of crimes committed against media practitioners are brought to book to curb impunity and oppression against journalists.
The statement read in part, “The Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zone B (South West, Nigeria), Comrade Ronke Samo, in a release made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, has called for adequate protection of journalists across the globe especially while carrying out their lawful duties. Just as she equally advised the concerned authorities to make concrete efforts to implement the resolutions/recommendations of the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 which urged Member States to implement definite measures to counter the culture of impunity against journalists.
“Samo noted that, Journalists, as the watchdogs of the society, play a pivotal role in promoting and preserving good governance which leads to a sustainable democracy and fosters a sane environment, free of rancour and prejudice.
“She therefore, advocated for a special protection and respect for media practitioners in adherence to constitutional provision’s to ensure their safety while discharging their duties for the benefit of the society. Samo noted also that citizens also need to understand the crucial role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm that must be trusted to clarify goals of the society, while government should ensure that all perpetrators of crimes committed against media practitioners are brought to book to curb impunity and oppression against journalists.”
