(MRA/IFEX) – On 1 December 2005, “New Age” newspaper reporter Annabelle Ayika was beaten by policemen attached to the Lagos State Governor, who also smashed her camera as she took photographs of the policemen brutally attacking some traders at the Lagos State Secretariat complex. Ayika, the Digital Age reporter for the newspaper, was at the […]
(MRA/IFEX) – On 1 December 2005, “New Age” newspaper reporter Annabelle Ayika was beaten by policemen attached to the Lagos State Governor, who also smashed her camera as she took photographs of the policemen brutally attacking some traders at the Lagos State Secretariat complex.
Ayika, the Digital Age reporter for the newspaper, was at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment to cover a demonstration by computer vendors, organized by the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), protesting the closure of their retail outlets by the state government. The ministry sealed up the traders’ shops, alleging that they were evading payment of taxes and not keeping their environment clean.
Ayika said after the computer vendors expressed their grievances, Environment Ministry officials told policemen at the Lagos State secretariat complex, which houses the ministry, to deal with the traders. The policemen promptly brutally attacked the vendors, which point Ayika began taking photographs.
The reporter was immediately arrested and severely beaten. Her digital camera was also deliberately smashed by the policemen, after which she and CAPDAN assistant secretary John Oboro were taken to a deputy superintendent of police, Bayo Suleiman, for questioning.
Suleiman later apologized to her for the officers’ behaviour, but rather than take responsibility for the damaged camera, he urged CAPDAN to buy a new camera for the reporter.
