The Security Division of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, on Saturday barred journalists from covering the institution’s 45th convocation.
Correspondents from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Daily Trust, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), Nagarta Radio, and NTA Zaria, among others, were denied access to Mamman Kontagora Square, the venue of the ceremony.
A security officer of the university, identified as C.K., said he was acting on the directive of the Chief Security Officer, Ashiru Zango, to deny unaccredited journalists access to the venue.
He stated that journalists were required to obtain clearance from the vice-chancellor before they could be allowed entry, despite presenting valid staff identity cards and accreditation tags issued by the university.
The affected journalists protested the decision, insisting that they had been duly accredited to cover the event.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) intervened and made efforts to contact the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Auwalu Umar.
Mr. Umar assured them that he would intervene to ensure that the media were granted access to the venue.
As of the time this report was filed, some journalists had angrily left the convocation venue in protest over the development.
NAN
