NUJ FCT Council Slams NRC Boss Over Shocking Verbal Assault on Female Journalist: Demands Swift Public Apology

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a scathing condemnation that has ignited widespread outrage across Nigeria’s media landscape, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has fiercely denounced the harassment, intimidation, and verbal abuse inflicted upon veteran journalist Comrade Ladi Bala by Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The incident, which unfolded amid the chaotic aftermath of a recent train derailment, underscores a disturbing pattern of hostility toward the press and has prompted urgent calls for accountability.

This conduct is not only dehumanizing but an affront to democracy and the rule of law

Comrade Bala, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and a dedicated transport reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), was performing her lawful duties on August 27, 2025, when she was targeted by Opeifa. While covering the derailment of a train along the critical Abuja-Kaduna rail line—an event that left six passengers injured but no fatalities—Bala faced unprovoked aggression that disrupted her live reporting.

Eyewitness accounts from fellow journalists at the scene paint a harrowing picture: Opeifa aggressively challenged her presence, hurling derogatory insults such as “You are stupid,” “Your management is stupid,” “Foolish woman,” “Look at you, you are not even properly dressed,” “Useless,” and “Who is watching NTA?” He then ordered security personnel to physically remove her from the area, threatening her with ejection and further repercussions.

The confrontation did not end there. When NUJ officials, including Council Chairperson Comrade Grace Ike, intervened to de-escalate the situation, Opeifa reportedly insulted Ike as well and doubled down on his threats.

Citing “security reasons” for prohibiting live streaming, he vowed to report Bala to security agencies, the Presidency, and NTA management to ensure her dismissal. He further declared that she would be barred from covering any future NRC events under his watch—a move that smacks of blatant retaliation against journalistic scrutiny.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday and signed by Council Secretary Comrade Jide Oyekunle, the NUJ FCT Council described Opeifa’s actions as a “blatant violation of the fundamental rights and dignity 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.”

The union highlighted how the episode contravenes Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which safeguard freedom of expression and the press.

“This conduct is not only dehumanizing but an affront to democracy and the rule of law,” the statement asserted, framing it as part of a broader “growing hostility against the media in Nigeria and the intolerant posture of government officials to accountability and public scrutiny.”

The timing of the incident adds a layer of irony and concern. Just days earlier, on August 26, 2025, the Abuja-Kaduna train derailed near Jere station, prompting Opeifa to publicly take responsibility for the mishap during a press briefing and on television interviews.

He described it as a “near miss” and assured Nigerians of a thorough investigation by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), with services suspended until safety is restored—potentially within 30 days. Yet, while owning the operational failure, Opeifa’s alleged intolerance for media coverage of the event has now cast a shadow over his leadership, raising questions about transparency in public institutions.

The NUJ FCT Council expressed unwavering solidarity with Comrade Bala, reaffirming its “zero tolerance for any form of harassment, intimidation, or abuse of journalists, most especially women journalists.”

It demanded an “immediate and unreserved public apology” from Opeifa and urged the NRC to implement “decisive actions to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.” The union vowed to “pursue all necessary channels to ensure accountability and safeguard the rights and welfare of journalists in the FCT and beyond,” while calling on relevant authorities to foster a “conducive and respectful working environment for media practitioners, recognizing their essential role in society.”