The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has condemned in strong terms the harassment and verbal assault of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists and a Transport Reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, Ladi Bala, by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa.
Bala was harassed and verbally assaulted by Opeifa on Wednesday while covering the aftermath of the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment.
Eyewitnesses said Opeifa disrupted her live reporting, hurled insults at her, including “stupid,” “foolish woman,” and “useless” and ordered security operatives to forcibly remove her from the scene.
Despite claiming his actions were for “security reasons,” Opeifa allegedly threatened to report Bala to security agencies, the Presidency and NTA management in a bid to cost her job, while vowing to bar her from future NRC events.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Jide Oyekunle, on Wednesday, the NUJ FCT Council described Opeifa’s conduct as “dehumanising, a gross violation of press freedom, and an affront to democracy and the rule of law.”
The NUJ demanded an immediate and public apology from Opeifa and urged the NRC to take decisive measures to prevent similar incidents.
“In light of this, the NUJ demands an immediate and unreserved public apology from Mr. Kayode Opeifa and calls on the Nigerian Railway Corporation to take decisive action to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. The NUJ FCT Council condemns this act in its totality and will pursue all necessary channels to ensure accountability and safeguard the rights and welfare of journalists in the FCT and beyond,” the union said.
The council also reaffirmed its zero tolerance for harassment of journalists, particularly women, and vowed to pursue all necessary steps to ensure accountability.
