12th April, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Media groups and associations in Rivers have come out strongly to condemn the abduction of their colleague and Correspondent of Channels Television, Joshua Rogers.
Joshua Rogers was abducted on Thursday April 11 in Rumuosi, Port Harcourt , close to his residence at about 9.30 pm.
Reacting to the development, the Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Journalists Forum, Rivers State condemned in strong terms the kidnap Joshua Rogers, who, it noted is one of its members.
The group in a press statement jointly signed by its President, Philip Awajioboro and Allwell Ene, its Secretary said, “The Forum frowns at and views his abduction as not only barbaric but a threat to journalism practice in Nigeria
“We therefore call on the Nigeria Police and indeed all security agencies to without delay ensure the release of our member Joshua Rogers unhurt.
“We also urge his abductors to release him unconditionally without any iota of delay
Similarly,the Andoni Practicing Journalists Association, APJA, said it received with shock the report of the kidnap of Rogers Joshua who is its Public Relations Officer,PRO.
The group in a press statement jointly signed by Reuben Okwa and Francis Golden said,”To think that Joshua who was kidnapped at his Port Harcourt residence was whisked away upon return from an official assignment on Thursday night is barbaric and senseless.
The group said it is highly regrettable that journalists, who are always at the forefront in the battle for social change, accountability, transparency in governance and social justice are victims of the vices they stood against.
The group called on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to secure the release of Joshua Rogers from his abductors.
APJA stated further that the abduction of Joshua has heightened the call on government at all levels to ensure the protection of Journalists while carrying out their legitimate responsibility as watch dogs of society.
Our Correspondent reports that Rogers was a former staff of CoolWAZOBIA Nigeria Infm Port Harcourt before joining Channels Tv and was deployed to the Rivers State Government House immediately.
The reporter was driving his official Channels TV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from official assignment in Government House after a trip to Ndoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Our Correspondent also reports that immediately the incident happened last night, CP Tunji Rilwan Disu, Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Department of State Security,DSS and the Navy were alerted.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, Spokesperson for the Rivers Police Command has confirmed the incident.