The reported threats on the life of Premium Times Journalist Saviour Imukudo have the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria, extremely concerned.
A guy who oversaw a badly performed government project in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, allegedly threatened to kill a PREMIUM TIMES journalist over a report on the project, according to a report by Premium Times.
According to the report, “Asaph Okure, the guy who oversaw the repair of the stalls, declined to comment when Saviour Imukudo reached him before the newspaper wrote a feature on the project. Later, Mr. Okure threatened Mr. Imukudo, the reporter, in a phone conversation. Further threats against the reporter could be heard from a male voice in the background.
“Look at six feet, look at you. Not to worry. Thank God, I finally understand your name. The voice in the background added, “Someone is asking you to go and die, and you are following the person.
IPC requests that the Nigerian government and security authorities take immediate action to prevent Journalist Saviour Imukudo from suffering any harm as a result of its grave concern for his condition.
Anyone who may be offended by media stories is urged by the IPC to seek redress within the legal system rather than turning to extralegal self-help.
In order to add their voices to the call for Saviour Imukudo’s safety, IPC makes an appeal to other national, regional, and worldwide media freedom groups, freedom of expression organizations, and human rights entities.
IPC thinks it is time to put an end to attacks on journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria so that the nation will no longer be regarded as a dangerous place to pursue journalism.