Missing journalist: South-East group gives IGP, others 7-day ultimatum

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL), the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East geopolitical zone, on Tuesday gave the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and other security agencies in the country, a 7-day ultimatum to find missing Tordue Salem, a journalist with Vanguard Newspaper.

Tordue covers the Federal House of Representatives for Vanguard newspaper.

The ultimatum was contained in a statement released on Tuesday, by Hon. Good luck Egwu Ibem, President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders.

The group said it received with “rude shock the news of the sudden disappearance of Tordue Salem since October 13, in Abuja. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed forces, the President of the Senate, His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker Federal House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to activate all necessary machinery to ensure that everything is done to ensure the save return of Tordue Salem.

“If we don’t see Tordue Salem after seven working days, we will stage a one million man protest until we see Tordue Salem return safely to his family. The time has started counting” Ibem posited.

“This kind of story is totally unacceptable to us and we demand that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba and other security agencies “must” fine Tordue Salem and hand him over to his family within the next 7 working days” Hon. Ibem declared.

“These 7 days ultimatum given by us to the IGP and other security agencies to fine Salam is not negotiable. The IGP must prove his mettle by bringing back Salem to his family. No form of excuse will be entertained. The IGP and other security agencies must fine Salem immediately” he added.

The coalition insisted that any form of attack on any journalist is an attack on the entire society.
“They are the backbone of our democracy and any attack on them is an attack against all Nigerians and non-Nigerians,” he said.

“The duties of journalists in our society cannot be overemphasized. Journalists ensure the possibility of a good society; an accountable democracy and a transparent government.

“Without any equivocation, we state that we will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment against journalists in Nigeria. “The Federal Government, the state governments and all security agencies must ensure the safety of journalists in the discharge of their legitimate duties.

“We don’t want to hear that a journalist is missing next time” the coalition warned.

“All Nigerians must ensure that no harm no matter how little befalls a journalist.They are the hope and only channel through which the people can be updated about was is happening in our society” the coalition maintained.

(Daily Independent)