(IJC/IFEX) – In a bizarre display of power, three of Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah’s security aides dealt several blows to two “Punch” reporters, Soni Daniel and Tony Ita Etim, at the governor’s office in Uyo. The assault took place the week of 29 May 2000. Etim, the “Punch” correspondent in Cross River State, […]
(IJC/IFEX) – In a bizarre display of power, three of Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah’s security aides dealt several blows to two “Punch” reporters, Soni Daniel and Tony Ita Etim, at the governor’s office in Uyo. The assault took place the week of 29 May 2000.
Etim, the “Punch” correspondent in Cross River State, had joined the acting Central Bank (CBN) Governor’s entourage from Calabar to Uyo while his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Daniel, joined him to cover an assignment in the governor’s office in Uyo.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the governor’s office, security men prevented some journalists and CBN officials from entering the governor’s courtesy call room. While Daniel promptly identified himself and introduced other reporters who came from Cross River State with the CBN acting governor, one of the overzealous security men dashed from behind, pushed Etim from the staircase and dragged him outside the lobby. Outside the building, two other security men pounced on the journalist.
An attempt by Daniel to save Etim from the rampaging security men also earned him some blows. Etim was injured in the lower neck area while Daniel sustained some injuries to his right hand.
Embarrassed CBN officials calmed down the security men before decorum was restored. Most government house officials who watched the incident expressed shock at the brutal manner in which the security men beat up the reporters. One unnamed official who watched the incident unfold noted that one of the security men was fond of embarrassing the governor’s visitors. He felt the security man should be disciplined.
