In the last two weeks, it has been a harrowing experience for many Nigerians especially journalists covering the EndSARS protests which rocked the country and left huge damages behind.
For two weeks, youths took to the streets in protest against police brutality, extrajudicial killings, extortion and sought a reform of the Police Force.
Sad enough, no fewer than 27 buildings including media stations, government offices, police stations, among others, were burnt down.
Three innocent photo journalists and many local government information managers and other staff of local governments in Lagos were severely attacked during the protests which were hijacked by people suspected to be hoodlums. Several cars were burnt within the local government premises.
It is time we advocate a special allowance for journalists as a result of the hazards of the job, it is also imperative that journalists must have insurance cover for the hazards.
The event of the past few days had left media agencies like TVC and The Nation newspapers that were set ablaze with several property, cars burnt and damaged, counting losses. Many cars and property were also destroyed at LTV. The management staff of the TV station and others are counting huge losses running into billions of naira.
While government is taking an inventory of overall losses suffered during the protests, it should also consider the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the media houses destroyed and also consider paying compensation to our colleagues who either lost their cameras or had their cameras damaged and those whose cars were either burnt or damaged at the television stations, the Nation newspapers and in the local government premises.
The Press as the Fourth Estate of the Realm deserves better treatment by government and the public.
By
Adeleye Ajayi
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