The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) has warned that the era of intimidation and harassment of its members will henceforth be a thing of the past as the association will no longer tolerate that.
The warning is contained in a press statement issued on Sunday in Umuahia by Evang. Promise Uzoma Okoro, the Public Relations Officer of the association.
The caution is coming following the abduction of its member and Editor of ABA CITY BLOG, Ngozi Blessed Onwukwe on Friday along Ikot Ekpene Road in Umuahia the Abia State Capital by unknown gun men.
The statement describes as sad a situation where journalists have become endangered species in the society where thugs and security operatives are used by the politically connected class to stifle the freedom of press in Abia state.
According to the statement, the abduction may not be unconnected with a story the blogger published which a certain local government chairman in the state finds unsavoury.
“This Ugly Development is an eye opener to the fact that journalists and online media practitioners in Abia State are endangered species especially those who refuse to sell their integrity for a plate of porridge to Some Politicians”
“But we wish to warn that henceforth, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria will no longer tolerate any further harassment of members in Abia State or any State in Nigeria”.
“While we await the outcome of the investigations launched by the Police authorities in Abia State to unravel those behind the abduction, we wish to call on all our Members to continue with its Civil Responsibilities until Good Governance prevails in Abia State and in Nigeria generally”, the statement concluded.
