NUJ Taraba council implore govt to take  decisive actions against killings across the state.

 

. Taraba Speaker condemns Police killing

 

 

Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo

 

The Taraba State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, has congratulate the newly elected National officials under the leadership of Comrade Chris Isiguzo and pledged unwavering support to the National Secretariate.

 

It equally called upon members to support the state leadership of the Union and to work in unison for the good of the Union.

 

The Union stated this in a Communique at the end of its meeting at the NUJ Press center, Jalingo.

 

Members lauded efforts of the State Council at reactivating the lodging facility at the Press Centre and called for provision of more facilities at the Council’s Hall.

 

The Congress called on the National Constitution Review Committee to give interest of Members of union the overriding priority in their work so as to protect the future of the profession.

 

It urged Women journalists to make timely inputs in the ongoing constitution review exercise.

 

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Congress call on its members  to stick to the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties and avoid meddling in politics.

 

“We called on the National Secretariat to give Taraba state council due consideration in all activities of the Union.

 

The Congress commended Taraba State government for construction of roads across the state.

 

It called on the state government to increase man power capacity of media organizations for wider coverage of the state.

 

“We pleaded with the State government to source funds for the payments of local government workers, primary school teachers’ salary/arrears and capture their retirees for payment of pension benefits.

 

Union calls on the state government to receive the ENDSARS report for onward actions.

 

It called on the state government  to lias with NDLEA to tackle the menace of drugs and substance  abuse in the state.

 

It appeals to State government to empower TAPMA to buy and store grains for the rainy day and set up Consumer Protection Agency to check the high cost of food in the state.

 

“We implore State government to take more decisive actions against senseless killings across the state.

 

“We equally wants state government to liaise more with leadership of security agencies to stop police brutality.

 

Meanwhile, the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly  RT.(Hon). Joseph Albasu Kunini has condemned the killing of Thirty Seven years old Oliver Ezra by a police sergeant  in Jalingo and the general killings by police  of innocent citizens.

 

The Speaker made the call on Wednesday  when youth under the auspices  of ONE TARABA YOUTH COALITION, carrying placards with various  inscriptions, stormed the State House of Assembly  Complex in Jalingo, to register their grievances  against the  death of Ezra as a result of gunshots wounds he sustained at a police checkpoint along Jalingo-Numan highway.

 

‘I receive you to the State House of Assembly Complex today with a very heavy heart. We woke up yesterday  with the shocking news of the death of one of you, Oliver Ezra, as a result of  police brutality. This should not be happening now. We in the State House of Assembly  will not rest on our oars until the deceased  receives justice, even in death; he was an asset.

 

“The State Commissioner of Police has said that the culprit  has been apprehended  and will face the necessary  disciplinary process according to the Police Act, and thereafter charged to Court to face the full wrath of the law. As lawmakers, we will not condone  such heinous crime by the police personnel  who are being paid by taxpayers’ money to protect our lives  and property.

 

“As a Parliament, we don’t  address people  on the streets; therefore you are in the right place to register  your protest against police brutality  and the killing of Oliver Ezra; we will diligently follow  up to ensure that justice  is meted out against the culprit.

 

“I cannot imagine training  my son up to university  level, and after graduation  his life is cut short by a trigger-happy policeman. It is very sad .”

 

Speaking, the Leader of the coalition, Mr Philip Achagwa,  told the Speaker and other membera of the State House of Assembly that they had come to present their letter of  protest to the Inspector  General of Police against extra-judicial killing of Oliver Ezra by one Sergeant Haruna Idi.

 

The protest letter read in part that “One Taraba Youth Coalition  is a non-religious, non-ethnic, no-secretive and a non-profit making hub of youthful  Assembly created to showcase and promote the beauty, diversity,  culture  and people of Taraba State, and is aimed at uniting  indigenous  tribes and non-indigenes alike with a view of lending one voice on critical issues of development.

 

“We write to you today urging for an independent  investigations by Nigeria Police Force into the unimaginable and unconscionable MURDER OF MR. OLIVER EZRA BARAWANI, which our preliminary  findings indicate that while he was driving  his principal,  the Executive  Chairman of Lau local government  area of the State,  one Sergeant  Haruna Idi of the Nigerian  Police Force assigned on a ‘beat’ at a checkpoint along Jalingo-Numan road, accused the deceased of violating instructions at a checkpoint.

 

“However,  due to prior incident of negligence,  concealment  of facts and numerous conflicts, we are far from confident  that true justice  will be served in this case without the intervention of  the Inspector General of Police, whose sincerity of purpose has transformed  the Nigeria Police Force to a world class security  outfit within the shortest possible  time of his assumption  of office.”

 

Recall that the late Oliver Ezra died at the Federal Medical Center Jalingo on Tuesday morning as a result of the gunshots wounds he sustained from Sgt Haruna Idi last Friday, triggering series of protests in parts of the state against police brutality.