(MRA/IFEX) – On 4 January 2005, a security team made up of police officers and members of the anti-riot unit, deployed to maintain security at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, assaulted a number of journalists who were at the party’s secretariat to cover […]
(MRA/IFEX) – On 4 January 2005, a security team made up of police officers and members of the anti-riot unit, deployed to maintain security at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, assaulted a number of journalists who were at the party’s secretariat to cover the meeting.
The police officers were led by an assistant inspector general of police, Yekini Jimoh, and the commissioner of police in charge of operations, Lawrence Alobi. The journalists were ordered to move away from the precincts of the PDP Secretariat. They were not allowed to take notes or photograph those attending and the proceedings. When Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige arrived, he received a rousing ovation. At that moment, the police officers, supervised by Alobi, launched an attack on the journalists, hitting them with gun butts, batons, police boots and horse whips, while Jimoh watched from where he was standing nearby. Some of the journalists were injured while others had their cameras damaged or lost valuables, including their mobile telephones.
Yomi Odunuga, Abuja bureau chief of “The Punch” newspaper, and Segun Jacob Olatunji, a correspondent for “Nigerian Tribune” newspaper, were wounded as a result of the attack. Other journalists who suffered the police brutalities include: Gbenga Abiodun, a photojournalist with “Daily Independent” newspaper; Abayomi Fayese, a photojournalist with “The Guardian” newspaper; Kennedy Ebomade, of “Daily Trust” newspaper; Ibrahim Samaila, of “The Punch”; Francis Ojo, of the “Daily Champion” newspaper; as well as Akin Osimolade and Sunday Adah, both of “TELL” magazine. Innocent Okafor, of “ThisDay” newspaper, Monday Emoni, of “The Comet” newspaper, and George Edemevughe, of Channels Television, had their cameras damaged.
Olatunji was severely beaten. He was rushed to hospital by his colleagues as a result of the serious injuries he sustained and was hospitalised.
The police claimed they acted on the orders of PDP officials who instructed that journalists should not be allowed to cover the meeting.
The PDP was meeting to resolve internal crises that are rocking the party. In Anambra State, PDP party figure Chief Chris Uba is seeking to unseat Governor Ngige through violent means. A disagreement is also simmering between the party’s national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and President Olusegun Obasanjo.
