The Forum of Imo Based Editors (FIBE) has condemned in very strong terms the recent alleged manhandling and brutalization of an Owerri based Journalist and newspaper Publisher, Comrade Precious Nwadike describing it as unfortunate and improper demanding for full scale investigation into the ugly incident.
In a statement issued and signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Forum, Max Chinedu Egene and Elder Chigozie Uzosike respectively, and made available to the media, the Forum condemned in unequivocal terms the unwarranted attack on the journalist by one Mr Uche Uzodinma for no justifiable reason.
The Forum believes that there are other means of settling misunderstanding if any, instead of the agents of government taking the law into their hands as alleged. “This to us is an action taken too far and it violates the rights of citizens of Imo State.”
The Forum said it is investigating the matter to ascertain the details of the issue, adding that while that goes on, it is important to urge the government of the day to warn its officials and hangers-on to desist from actions that will portray the government in bad light, especially in this era that violation of human rights has become the rule and not the exception.
“The Editors will not condone any act of brutality meted out to any Imo Journalist, especially as they go about their reportorial job.
We therefore demand full-scale investigation into the alleged brutalization of the journalist as it would not be palatable to have Imo in the news as a state that has no respect for people’s rights and dignity, they concluded”.
