The recently installed Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr Alfred Martins, on Thursday, during his maiden press briefing, which was held at the Catholic Church of Assumption, condemned the brutalisation of Mr Benedict Uwalaka, a photojournalist with the Leadership Newspaper, by men alleged to be mortuary attendants.

According to the cleric, “it came as a shock to me, especially looking at the recently passed Freedom of Information. Journalists now have access to any legitimate information that is of public relevance, so there is no way they can justify the attack on a man that was doing his legitimate and constitutional duties, in search of news to educate and inform the public.”

The Archbishop comdemned the continued attack on journalists in the course of doing their jobs.

He challenged Governor Babatunde Fashola and other security agencies to protect journalists from unneccessary molestation in the course of carrying out their duties and advised journalists not to be intimidated.

On the issue of insecurity, Reverend Martins said the incessant bombings of innocent citizens by the Boko Haram sect was regretable and most unfortunate, as Nigerians now lived in fear and uncertainty.

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written by Julius Joel, August 17, 2012

Mr Archibishop should be sensitive to other people's loss. Loved ones' dead bodies should not be what journalists should be happy to put in the pages of newspapers. The way we conduct our affairs in Nigeria left much to be deserved. Over fifty miners were shot dead excution style by police in SOuth Africa, we did not see anybody around the dead bodies. No hospital or relatives gave information to media. We certainly don't need people like Mr Bishop who is not sensitive to other people's loss and see things only from the perspectives of journalist who practiced their profession by violating other people's right and privacy.

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