NLC Demands Release Of Detained Daily Trust Journalists

By Bulama Kaka

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the  release of Daily Trust staff arrested in Maiduguri by  soldiers and urged the Nigerian military to end its siege on the newspaper’s offices in Borno, Lagos and Abuja with immediate effect.

A statement signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on Sunday night, said the labour union condemned the military siege saying “no explanation is good enough for this extreme action as It is bizarre and represents repression and violation of press freedom.”

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 According to the statement, “We are in a democracy and the media constitute one of the strong institutions in our democracy.

“The Daily Trust Group represents some of the best traditions in journalism practice. They are neither associated with sensationalism nor some of the darker side of journalism.

“The arrest of its personnel and shutdown of its offices portend evil and represent a throwback to the dark days of the military.

“If the military authorities have issues with the newspaper; even if those issues relate to national security, there are established channels for dealing with them.

“Accordingly, we urge the military to order the immediate release of the detained staff and reopening of the newspaper office.

“In these frighteningly difficult times, the military need more friends than self-made enemies.”