The conveners of #FixTheCountry campaign have announced their intention to demonstrate on Saturday 22 May .
The protest dubbed “GbeeWɔMoŋ” is to register their displeasure over “unfair treatment” meted out to Citi FM journalist, Caleb Kudah, by operatives of national security last week.
“#FixTheCountry campaign reads with utter disgust the horrifying details of the torture of Caleb Kudah, a journalist with Citi FM, by members of our Republic’s national security,” a statement issued by the group said.
“As we all know, Caleb’s experience is not new; many other journalists have suffered the same fate. Several people have continued to sound the alarm bells about an entrenched culture of impunity, state sponsored violence and indifference,” it added.
Below is the full statement:
Background
On Tuesday (11 May), national security operatives detained Caled Kudah, a reporter with Citi FM, for allegedly filming on the premises of the National Security Ministry. He was released after questioning.
In a TV interview, Kudah alleged that he was manhandled before being questioned at the ministry.
“They took me to a police post, where I met DSP Azugu. But this time the gentleman had told everybody that I had come there and breached the protocols trying to cause problems.
Reverse slaps
“All the police officers there became agitated and aggressive towards me. So they took me to a smaller office and I showed them my ID and I told them that, ‘I am from Citi. I agree I shouldn’t have taken them: let’s delete it and please let me go.’ But they wouldn’t.
“He said, ‘Take his statement.’ He pushed me, I sat on the chair. They slapped me from the back. These are police officers, men in uniform. Some were bearded and had guns,” he recounted.
The National Security Ministry issued a statement saying it will investigate Kudah’s claims.
“The Ministry of National Security wishes to assure the public that appropriate actions shall be taken if the allegations are found to be true,” the statement said.
Fred Dzakpata
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
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