The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, is calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to identify and sanction the police officers responsible for assaulting two of its members.
Reports have revealed that two members of the union, including NUJ Secretary in Ogun State, Bunmi Adigun, and his cameraman, were attacked by policemen attached to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Friday.
The assault took place at Joga-Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
In a statement issued by the VP of the zone, Comrade Ronke Samo, and Secretary, Comrade Abdulrasaq Alege, the union condemned the actions of the security agents, describing it as barbaric, uncivilized, and unwarranted in a democratic setting.
The union emphasized that the conduct of the overzealous security agents attached to Adeleke is condemned by the entire NUJ Zone B, which comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.
The attack on the duo was denounced by the union as a violation and disgrace to the fundamental principles of press freedom.
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone B, completely condemns the attack on two of our members in Ogun state, Comrade Bunmi Adigun and another individual, by some overzealous and undemocratic security agents attached to Gov Ademola Adeleke at Joga-Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday,” the statement read.
“The attack on our members is a direct assault on all NUJ members across Zone B and Nigeria as a whole, and the union will not allow it to be overlooked.
“NUJ Zone B demands a thorough investigation into the assault on our members at Joga-Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and the identification and sanctioning of the concerned overzealous security agents by the relevant authorities,” it added.
“In line with the above, NUJ Zone B calls on the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to identify the erring Policemen and hold them accountable to prevent such displays of overzealousness towards journalists in the future,” the statement concluded.
