The coalition of civil society groups, Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has called for Improved media security in the state.
In a statement signed by the Chairperson, Hamza Aliyu and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, KONGONET decried the recent attack by armed bandits on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) FM Station 101.5 Jimgbe in the early hours of Saturday.
Aliyu noted that the attack is coming on the heels of the gruesome murder of a Lokoja-based Photojournalist, Ayobami Aiyepeku.
He stated that the weak security around the premises of media establishments is a cause for concern as this further exposes them to such attacks and threats.
He said these incidents have once again exposed the challenges bedeviling the security architecture both at national and sub national levels.
“The station had faced several operational issues that had limited their ability to provide services to the State capital and other conjugal communities, thus this incident has further dented the efforts the management and staff of the organization in bringing back the reach the station had at inception.
“Despite the recent efforts of the State Government towards curbing the recent spike in crimes and criminality, this recent attack has shown that there is a need for more concerted efforts at mitigating the menace of armed crimes especially within the environs of the state capital,” he said.
While lamenting the banal attack on the slain photojournalists, KONGONET said “this particular incident is not only gruesome but despicable taken into consideration that this was a young and vibrant journalist who was passionate about the job and had a promising career ahead.”
KONGONET called on the state and federal government to as a matter of urgency investigate these recent incidents with a view to bringing identified perpetrators to justice, while quickly restoring lost equipment so that the station would continue to provide services to the citizens of the state as enshrined in its mandate.
“We especially call on the Security Agencies to investigate the brutal attack on the INSIDE STORY Journalist and identify his whereabouts to bring closure to the family who have not only had to bear the trauma of the news of the attack but have to bear the pain of not knowing the fate of their loved one.
“We also call on the Kogi state government in particular to pay special attention to media establishments located in the state so as to enhance their capabilities to perform their constitutional duties to citizens by providing periodic subvention to cover overhead and employment of properly equipped security around their premises.
“We commiserate with the Management and staffs of PRIME FM 101.5 Jimgbe on the robbery attack.
“We most especially commensurate with the Family of Ayo Aiyepeku on this traumatic incidence and pray that they find closure and fortitude from Almighty God to bear the trauma,” the statement added.
