The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has condemned the killing of a soldier, a former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Mowan Etete and others who lost their lives during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State.
In a statement signed by the State NUJ Chairman, Stanley Job Stanley and Secretary, Ike Wigodo, on Sunday, the Union described the killing of citizens in an election that was supposed to be a mere popularity contest as senseless and unacceptable.
According to the statement, the murder of the victims was a manifestation of a do or die politics by desperate politicians in the State.
The NUJ noted that the spilling of people’s blood in the name of politics in the last few years negates the culture of political tolerance laid down by the founding fathers of the State, and for which the Rivers people are known.
While the Union urged political gladiators in Rivers State to play by the rules and desist from do or die politics, it called for the urgent arrest and prosecution of those behind the mindless killings during last Saturday’s election.
According to the statement, “the brutal murder of Mowan Etete and others during last Saturday’s election should not be swept under the carpet. The perpetrators of the dastardly acts, including their sponsors, must be brought to book”.
The statement, however, commended the NUJ Election Monitoring Team and other journalists in the State for their peaceful conduct during the election and urged them to be objective in their reports.
The NUJ commiserated with the families of the victims and pray God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
