The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has condemned the harassment and intimidation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) journalist, Ladi Bala, by the MD of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa.
A statement issued by the Secretary of te NUJ Council, Jide Oyekunle, described the harassment, intimidation and verbal abuse meted out on NTA’s Transport reporter, Ladi Bala, on August 27, 2025, while performing her professional and legal duties covering the aftermath of the train derailment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line as unacceptable.
It also described the action and behaviour of Opeifa, who aggressively questioned the presence of the reporter and disrupted her live reporting in the process and allegedly threatened her with physical removal as a blatant violation of the fundamental rights and dignity of human persons of journalists, especially women in the profession, and a grave threat to press freedom and the safety of those committed to delivering truthful information to the public.
Adding that the MD of NRC’s conduct contravenes the journalist’s right to freedom of expression and press freedom as guaranteed under Section 22 and Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The NUJ demanded an immediate and unreserved public apology from Mr. Kayode Opeifa and called on the Nigerian Railway Corporation to take decisive actions to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
