IFJ Urges Nigeria to Launch Independent Investigation into Inhumane Beating of Cameraman by Police Officers

May. 04, 2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Nigerian authorities to launch an independent investigation into the inhumane beating of Dare Folorunso, a cameraman with the state-owned Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, by police officers who accused him of shooting offensive video of female police officers.

We firmly condemn this inhumane beating and we call on the Ondo State government to conduct an independent investigation on this action, said Gabriel Baglo, director of the IFJ Africa office. We express our solidarity with him and hope he will recover soon.

On 1st May, Folorunso was assigned to cover the celebration of International Workers Day in Ondo State in South-western Nigeria at the Akure township stadium. While Folorunso was shooting in the stadium he was surrounded by about ten police officers who started beating him until he was unconscious.

The cameraman was then rushed to the hospital where he was chained to the bed. He was later unchained after journalists and officials intervened.

According to local sources, Folorunso was attacked after some female police officers complained to their colleagues that the cameraman had recorded offensive video of them.

The IFJ urges the Nigerian government to take strong measures to stop the repeated attacks on media workers by security forces and to bring the perpetrators of such attacks to justice.

In recognition of World Press Freedom Day we call on the government to ensure that journalists can work safely and freely in Nigeria, Baglo said.

For further information contact the IFJ: +221 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries

FR

Communiqu de presse
3 mai 2007

La FIJ appelle le Nigeria ouvrir une enqute indpendante sur la bastonnade inhumaine dun cameraman par des officiers de police

La Fdration Internationale des Journalistes (FIJ) a appel aujourd’hui les autorits nigrianes ouvrir une enqute indpendante sur la bastonnade inhumaine de Dare Folorunso, un cameraman de la tlvision dEtat Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, par des officiers de police qui l’ont accus davoir captur des images offensantes de femmes policiers.

Nous condamnons fermement cette bastonnade inhumaine et nous appelons le gouvernement de ltat de Ondo pour conduire une enqute indpendante sur cette action, a dit Gabriel Baglo, directeur du bureau Afrique de la FIJ. Nous lui exprimons notre solidarit et esprons quil se rtablisse bientt.

Le 1er mai, Folorunso a t assign la couverture de la clbration de la fte internationale du travail dans l’tat de Ondo dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria dans le stade de Akure. Tandis que Folorunso filmait dans le stade il a t entour par une dizaine dofficiers de police qui ont commenc le battre jusqu’ ce qu’il perde connaissance. Le cameraman a t alors conduit prcipitamment l’hpital o il a t enchan au lit. Il a plus tard t dsenchan aprs que des journalistes et des officiels sont intervenus.

Selon des sources locales, Folorunso a t attaqu aprs que des femmes policires se sont plaintes leurs collgues que le cameraman avait pris des images offensantes delles.
La FIJ a appel le gouvernement nigrian prendre dimportantes mesures pour mettre fin aux attaques rptes contre les professionnels des mdias par les forces de scurit et traduire les auteurs de ces attaques devant la justice.

En cette journe mondiale de la libert de la presse nous appelons le gouvernement sassurer que les journalistes peuvent travailler en scurit et en libert au Nigeria, a dit Baglo.

Pour plus dinformations, merci de contacter le + 221 842 01 43
La FIJ reprsente plus de 500 000 journalistes dans plus de 115

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