Dr Dili Ezughah, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the recent release of two journalists wrongfully detained in Jos, Plateau State.
Ezughah, in a statement issued by the Director, Research and Documentation of the Council, Mr Dan Ede, on Monday in Abuja, highlighted the positive shift in the relationship between the press and the security agency.
“The recent release of two journalists who were wrongfully detained in Jos, Plateau, was indeed a positive turning point in the press/security relationship in the country. It was delightful to witness such.
“I was touched by the uncommon show of understanding and humility by the Director-General of the DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi.
“He personally reached out to the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Alhassan Yahaya, with apologies over the unwarranted detention.
“I observed that the new path of collaboration and mutual respect the DSS is charting in dealing with the Fourth Estate of the Realm promises a boost for national cohesion and development,” Ezughah stated.
He called for mutual respect and cooperation between the press and the security agencies. Complying with the code of ethics, journalists can maintain professionalism and contribute to a more peaceful relationship.
Ezughah assured that the NPC, a government agency with the sole responsibility for promoting high professional standards and ensuring ethical compliance in the Nigerian press, would continue to ensure that journalists abide by the ethics of the profession.
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