The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday urged due process in the investigation of journalists for any offence.

In a communiqué it issued at the end of its Standing Committee Meeting in Ilorin, the Guild decried what it called a siege to the media.

The communiqué was signed by Messrs Femi Adesina and Isaac Ighure, the Guild President and General Secretary, respectively. 

It said that the latest siege were the harassment and detention of journalists of the Leadership newspaper.

The Guild said that, while it was not against investigation of journalists when and where necessary, such investigation must conform to the basic norms of due process permissible in a democracy.

It urged the government to depart from the old ways, whereby journalists were arrested and detained arbitrarily.

The Guild observed that the security agencies were doing their best, but urged them to do more to stem the worsening climate of insecurity in the country.

It noted with regret that in recent days, a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chudi Nwike, and a serving Police Commissioner in Kwara State, Mr Chinwike Asadu, were killed in bizarre circumstances.

"In Lagos, a Local Government Chairman, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, was abducted, and bombs still go off with reckless abandon in some parts of the country," the association said.

It, however, acknowledged the effort of the Federal Government to tackle the situation, and welcomed any initiative that would engender lasting peace in the country.

"In the face of the reported growth in the economy, which has been acknowledged by relevant bodies including the World Bank, the Guild urges the Federal Government to ensure that such economic growth translates to the creation of more jobs and wealth as a way of tackling rising poverty and unemployment."

It noted that poverty and unemployment had reached crisis point in Nigeria, noting that it was through job creation that the people would benefit directly from the reported economic growth.

"In view of the forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that this year would experience yet another bout of flooding, the Guild urges the states and Federal Government to take proactive steps to avoid a repeat of the flooding experienced last year."

The Guild thanked the Kwara State Government for its hospitality and hosting of the Standing Committee Meeting. (NAN)