The management of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has suspended the activities of Pen Press UDUS over a report exposing the poor drainage system in one of the institution’s female hostels.
Pen Press is a press club for campus journalists at UDUS. The outfit reports on matters related to the institution and the state as its primary focus.
On August 3, it published a report titled ‘Health Threat: UDUS Students Face Wrath of Poor Drainage’. Exactly 11 days later, the office of Umar Aliyu, the Dean of Students Affairs, issued a letter suspending the club’s activities.
Announcing the development via Facebook on Wednesday, the club said it was working to resolve the issue but “the pen is mightier than the gun”.
READ ALSO: CPJ Calls on Tinubu to Improve Press Freedom in Nigeria
Its statement read, “This is to inform the general public that the management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) through the Student Affairs Division suspended PEN PRESS from publication and other activities till further notice.
“The suspension which came to us yesterday was due to a report we published earlier this month about an important issue in Zamfara hostel.
“In the meantime, you won’t be seeing our publications and we are trying our possible best to make sure that we resolve this issue with the management. Until then, the pen is mightier than the gun.”
THE SUSPENSION
Pen Press UDUS suspension letter seen by FIJ
READ ALSO: In Nigeria, at Least 56 Journalists Attacked and Harassed as Protests Roil Region
Citing what it termed “factual inaccuracies or misleading information, potential harm to the university’s reputation and failure to adhere to journalistic standards”, the UDUS vice chancellor’s office, through the students’ affairs office, wrote to Pen Press’ editor-in-chief.
It claimed that the report had raised concerns within the university’s administration.
In retaliation, the university management said Pen Press was banned from gathering news or conducting interviews until further notice.
On Thursday afternoon, FIJ called Aliyu, but he said he could not take our call at that time. FIJ sent him a message but he was yet to respond at press time.
The management’s decision comes amid a wave of press gagging in Nigeria. Several journalists and media outfits have come under fire for their reporting in recent times, raising fears over the guarantee of press freedom in the country.
The post Usman Danfodiyo Uni Bans Pen Press From Journalism Over Report It Doesn’t Like appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.