The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) vowed that their organisations would not be cowed into shirking their responsibility of information dissemination.
A communiqué issued yesterday by the association's executive secretary Feyi Smith, said the NPAN executive committee meeting discussed the attacks and threats on newspaper houses, and resolved to engage with security agencies to explore new ideas for resolving the challenges of insecurity facing the country.
"The executive committee of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria at its emergency meeting held in Abuja on Saturday, May 5, 2012 deliberated on the bombing of ThisDay, Sun and The Moment newspapers on Thursday, April 26, 2012, and the threat to other media houses and resolved as follows:
"That the NPAN condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on ThisDay newspapers in Abuja; and ThisDay, Sun and The Moment newspapers in Kaduna in attacks claimed by a group often referred to as Boko Haram and its threat of more attacks on the media.
"That the NPAN expresses its solidarity with the affected media houses and extends its most profound condolences to the families of the victims.
"That the NPAN views the attacks and the threats of more attacks as an assault on the freedom of expression and free speech and resolves that the press will not be intimidated or cowed in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.
"That the NPAN is seriously concerned about the worsening state of insecurity in the country and urges the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take every necessary action to give meaning and expression to its basic constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property.
"That in the light of the deteriorating security situation in the country, the NPAN has resolved to engage with the leadership of the security agencies to find solutions and to explore new ideas for resolving the challenges of insecurity facing all of us.
"That the media and all well-meaning Nigerians should continue to do all they can to pull the nation back from the brink by promoting national healing, understanding, accountability and justice.
"Finally, we thank the people of Nigeria and the international community for their solidarity, support and fortitude."
Source: allAfrica.com
