Elections 2023: Experts tasks Security Agencies on journalists safety in Nigeria
Haruna Usman Toma, Kaduna
Network of Peace Journalists on the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) program with coordination from Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) – Kaduna, has expressed satisfaction over the just concluded 1 day engagement with Media Practitioners in Kaduna State towards the coverage of the 2023 general elections calling for maximum protection for journalists during Elections
In a statement made available to Daily Assets on Thursday morning in Kaduna, the team leader of the network Ibrahima Yakubu, thanked Mercy Corps (MC) and the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), partners with other stakeholders on the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) for organizing the event which according to him has availed journalists on the culture and ethics of peace journalism.
While encouraging other non-governmental organization and civil society organizations to sensitize the general public through the medium on the dangers associated with hate speech, vote buying and thuggery among youth groups.
According to him Media practitioners in the country should sensitize and educate Nigerians not to see the 2023 general elections as a do or die affairs.
Media owners in Kaduna State and the country should support and equip their reporters with modern equipments so as to enable them discharge their duty effectively during the coverage of the general elections.
Experts called on security agencies, para-military and communities to provide security to all the journalists, during the general elections at the polling Centers.
He appealed to media organizations to provide kits and other necessary equipment to enable journalist carried out their responsibilities toward disseminating information to the general public
“Religious leaders should not use their sermons and congregation to preach disunity during, before and after the elections, so as not to cause division among fellow citizens in the State and Nigeria as a whole.” Ibrahima Stressed
The network commended mercy Corp and interfaith mediation center for spending 3 years of monthly peace journalism training the media which has contributed immensely towards promoting interreligious tolerance and better understanding among different faith base organization in the country.
