#Endbadgovernance: Security Operatives Open Fire on Protesters and Journalists in Abuja.
GoldenNewsNg gathered that On the third day of the Nationwide hunger Protest, security Agents at Abuja’s Moshood Abiola National Stadium opened fire on protestors and journalists.
The protesters in Abuja had requested use of Eagle Square, but a judge ordered them to the stadium, where they protested peacefully on days one and day two.
However, the atmosphere became tense after police sprayed tear gas at demonstrators on the third day.
Although police used force to disperse demonstrators throughout Nigeria’s capital city during the first two days of the exercise, no force was used at the permitted venue.
However, as demonstrators began to reassemble on Saturday, the usually affable officers became hostile.
Masked Department of State Services (DSS) personnel came at the stadium in seven vehicles.
While police officers arrested people on the ground, other operatives began shooting at protestors and journalists who fled for safety.
The security personnel not only shot but also pursued their targets, arresting several in the process.
The bullets pierced a car carrying journalists out of the area.
The International Press Centre (IPC) previously decried attacks on journalists and other media workers covering the #EndbagGovernance countrywide demonstration.
In a statement, the IPC stated that information gathered by its safety alert situation room “revealed that a number of journalists and media professionals faced one form of attack or the other, including physical assault, harassment, and denial of access to cover the protest”.
According to the IPC, Benard Akede, a journalist with News Central Television in Lagos, “was interrupted and harassed by police officers and LCC officials who barred him and other journalists from interviewing anyone during a live broadcast”.
“While reporting a protest in Kano, Ibrahim Isah, a TVC News correspondent, was physically assaulted by hoodlums armed with weapons. “He sustained injuries to his hand,” the statement says.
“Also in the state, a Channels Television vehicle carrying around eleven (11) journalists, including TVC News correspondent Ibrahim Isah, was vandalized. The terrible situation caused trauma for the journalists onboard.
“While reporting a protest in the FCT, Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was attacked and injured by police officers who beat him with the buttstocks of their guns and batons, causing head injuries.
“Police officers also destroyed journalists’ cameras.” Police arrested Jide Oyekunle, a photojournalist for the Daily Independent, and took his cell phone.
Also, the IPC stated that Mary Adeboye of News Central Television was affected by tear gas sprayed by police personnel while reporting the protest in Abuja.
“In Calabar, Cross River state, hoodlums were said to have launched an attack on journalists, seriously injuring Nigerian Tribune reporter Joseph Abasi-Abasi,” according to the IPC.
“The hoodlums attacked an 18-seater bus owned by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that was delivering food to the Ernest Etim Press Centre in Calabar.
“Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch was arrested by police, beaten, and transferred to an unknown location in Calabar. He was eventually liberated.
“In Delta state, Matthew Ochei of Punch Newspaper, Monday Osayande of Guardian Newspaper, and Pointer reporter Lucy were attacked by anti-protest demonstrators who arrived at the demonstration site and chased protestors away in the presence of security forces.
“The journalists were taking pictures and conducting interviews when the allegedly pro-government protesters smashed their gadgets and attacked them.”
Melody Akinjiyan, IPC’s press freedom officer, called the attacks as “a troubling repeat of history,” emphasizing that journalists on lawful job should never be assaulted by law enforcement or thugs.
“It is regrettable that the incidents were recorded despite calls by IPC and other media groups on stakeholders and security agencies to ensure a safe environment for journalists covering the protests,” according to her.
“The rights of journalists to cover and report protests and other societal activities as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and various regulatory frameworks have not been respected as expected.”
Akinjiyan urged all responsible security authorities, particularly the police, to investigate the attacks and bring the culprits to justice.
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