By editor
The Commissioner of Police(CP),Rivers State Command,Mr Olugbenga Adepoju has relieved the DPO involved in the assault on some Journalists covering the Take It Back Protest ( TIB) on April 7, 2025. in Port Harcourt
CP Adepoju made this known on Friday when he visited the NUJ Press Centre, Moscow Road in connection with the incident..
Some journalists including a Channel TV reporter were beaten up and their gadgets confisticated by the Police while carrying out their duties of informing the public on what was going on in Port Harcourt concerning the protest.
However,addressing the State Working Committee(SWC), of the NUJ presided over by its State Chairman,Comrd Paul BAZIA,the CP said he got the assault news with shock, pointing out that he was in Abuja that Monday attending the grand finale of the 2025 National Police Day.
He said when the news broke,he called the DPO concerned to ascertain the cause of the matter that warranted such action.
And since no evidence was produced to have warranted such action,he ordered that he be relieved of his duties.
“Journalists were the first group I hosted on resumption to duties as CP,to show how dearly we treasure their importance. Since then,we have been working together.
I am therefore here with my Management Team to apologize for what happened that day.
“Please we are sorry and l promise it won’t repeat itself. As I’m talking to you,the DPO incharge of that area has been dropped because he failed to produce evidence that warranted such action and officers identified in the video are currently facing punishment,”the CP said.
Responding, the NUJ Chairman,Comrd Paul BAZIA said initially he wanted to ignore the rumour surrounding the assault on journalists,but when he saw the video,where journalists were running under serious teargas smoke,he couldn’t wish that away.
He reminded the CP that journalists were there to perform their statutory duties just like the police,so there was no reason for such treatment by his men.
” the journalists have the duty to cover the protest, the Police has the duty to protect live and property just like the protesters also have right to protest”
Paul Bazia requested that the officers that perpetrated this evil be fished out and punished accordingly.
“We are pleased that the DPO has been removed,but we also want the officers that practically committed the offence to be identified and punished appropriately,”the NUJ Chairman said.
He added that the CP or PPRO can as well put a call across to the Council if any journalist is found conducting himself in an unprofessional manner.
He suggested that the CP engages his officers in a reorientation talk for proper conduct while performing their duties outside.
