The Sokoto State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) has apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the alleged assault on its Secretary, Muhammad Nasir Bello, assuring the union that the incident would not recur.
ASHENEWS recalls that the union, on Tuesday, demanded an investigation into the assault on its Secretary, Muhammad Nasir Bello, by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) attached to the State Government House.
It also demanded justice for Bello, a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was assaulted while covering a solidarity rally in support of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ahmed Aliyu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the state.
But the Service pledged to take administrative action against the personnel involved.
The apology was conveyed during a visit to the NUJ leadership by a high-level DSS delegation comprising three Deputy Directors and the Chief Detail of the Sokoto State Government House.
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The delegation expressed regret over the incident, stressing that the Service neither directed nor intended for its personnel to humiliate, intimidate or harass journalists carrying out their legitimate professional duties.
It assured the union of measures to prevent a recurrence and reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to strengthening its cordial relationship with the media.
In its response, the NUJ Sokoto State Council welcomed the apology and assurances, describing them as important steps towards addressing the incident and preventing a recurrence.
The Council, however, emphasised that the safety, dignity and freedom of journalists must be respected at all times, particularly in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
It reiterated its commitment to responsible journalism and maintaining professional relationships with security agencies and other stakeholders.
