The Nigeria Union of Journalists – NUJ, Rivers State Council, has criticised the intimidation and harassment of Confidence Biebara, one of its member, by Mr. Rowland Okojie, a member of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Port Harcourt.

According to information obtained by the Union, Biebara was subjected to harassment and intimidation by Okojie on Monday, October 24, 2022, around noon at the Rivers State Magistrate Court 10.

The victim had gone to the court to follow up on a case involving National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) officials who had been granted bail by the same court.

Okojie allegedly threatened to take legal action against Biebara for photographing the NAPO President and three other officials as they posed with their lawyer.

The Union demanded an apology from the Correctional Service in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo, respectively.

The Union noted that Biebara had not committed any offense justifying harassment or intimidation by the prison official.

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Additionally, the statement urged the Rivers State Comptroller of Correctional Service to look into the situation and summon Okojie to order.

The statement reads;

“We consider Mr Okojie’s act as an affront to press freedom, a violation of the fundamental human rights of our member and an invidious attempt at instigating gender-based violence. It is important to note that neither Mr Okojie nor any of his fellow correctional service personnel on duty were captured in the said picture. So, our member did not commit any act of infringement that should have warranted harassment and intimidation by Mr Okojie. We warn that nothing harmful should befall our member, Confidence Biebara, while we also call on the security agencies in the state to always accord journalists due respect in the course of their professional duties.”

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕?
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