A Failed State Is Where A Glorified Criminal Abducts Journalists And Frame Them For Arms Possession. The pictures here show the 14 journalists who were kidnapped on Sunday afternoon by ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo on their way from the Delta creeks to cover a massive protest staged by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s kinsmen over the manner that glorified criminal called Tompolo and his kinsmen have taken over the controversial $16billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project. It was to have been commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, but that event was scratched following severe threats by Tompolo and his kinsmen. After some of them were temporarily released, they were again detained by operatives of the Nigeria Navy at the NNS Delta, following their framing on arms charges by Tompolo. The journalists include the South-South Regional Editor of Vanguard, Emma Amaize; South South Editor of Nation newspaper, Shola ONeil; a reporter with Daily Independent, Emma Arubi; South-South region editor of Leadership, Shola Adebayo, and a Channels cameraman, Olu Philips and reporter. The latest twist, followed arms that were allegedly planted in their boat by Tompolos loyalists acting on instructions in a bid to frame them and three loyalists of the chairman of Delta Waterways Security Committee, Ayiri Emami. It has been learned that the continued detention of the journalists by the navy is not unconnected with Tompolo’s instructions to the Presidency and other security agents in Abuja that the journalists were not to be released as they had been allegedly found with fire arms. Narrating their ordeal to SaharaReporters, one of the kidnapped journalists stated that they were seized near Kpokpo, and their bags, phones, wrist watches, and video cameras carted away. “We were severely manhandled, especially one of our colleagues, Mr. Emma Arubi because he is an Itsekiri. Emma Arubi who incidentally is an Itsekiri was forced to hold the supposed gun to look as if we are actually in possession of the alleged fire arms. They told us they were sending the pictures to the presidency and would circulate it on social media. They later handed us over to the army and alleged we were with guns.” This is one very disheartening moment for me as a journalist. In a country where a criminal who should be in jail is not calling the shots. A criminal who now owns private jets and choice properties merely for carrying arms against the state has amassed so much wealth and authority that he thinks he is at liberty to hold any body hostage including journalists. President Jonathan must be told that his tenure, whether it last for as long as that of Ghadaffi or Seseseko, it will certainly come to an end and indeed, the hatchet men will have a full share of their recompense. They should also know that they no longer have the monopoly of violence as demonstrated by the Boko Haram suicide bombers. The NUJ and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE must rise up and bring this impunity to end. Journalists must be allowed to do their work without any form of inhibition particularly from glorified criminals like Tompolo. Let no one think that this country will continue to be run by glorified criminals who have no respect for decency. Politicians must desist from using journalists to settle their differences particularly as we approach 2015.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:25:16 +0000
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