Oyo NUJ insists that a reporter who was beaten by police at a PDP primary receive justice
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council has called on the State Police Command to investigate the assault on Yinka Adeniran, a reporter for The Nation Newspaper, during the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial primary in Ibadan.
The NUJ expressed sadness in a statement issued by its Chairman, Ademola Babalola, that the officer of the Command who went overboard and assaulted the innocent reporter showed no remorse when the NUJ leadership demanded an explanation as to why the reporter was beaten.
Babalola condemned the officer’s uncivilized and violent attack on Adeniran and urged that justice be served because the officer’s photograph has trended on social media platforms, and the police should guarantee the officer is brought to justice.
Yinka Adeniran works as a reporter for the Governor’s Office in Oyo State.
According to Adeniran, the officer with the AK47 beat him, tore his shirt, and was teargassed in the eyes, nose, and mouth by officers with the name tag I.O Niyi.
The incident happened during the PDP primary election, which pitted State Governor Seyi Makinde against Mogaji Hazeem Gbolarumi. The event took place at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex (Tennis Courts Pavillion).
Trouble began when the reporter, along with other colleagues, returned to the site after monitoring the situation from the main arena.
The reporters were requested to identify themselves again as they approached the entrance gate, which they did.
On the grounds that there were too many media covering the event, the reporters were instructed to stand to the side.
However, due to their tardiness, the security officers were overcome by many of the delegates at the entry.
When the officer saw that The Nation reporter had obtained access, he became obviously furious and ordered other officers to ‘throw’ him out.
After five officers armed with riffles assaulted the reporter, who was only carrying a jotter and phone, they manhandled him and tore his clothing.
After being booted out of the event, Niyi returned to fetch a tear gas can from one of his colleagues and blasted it straight into the eyes, nose, and mouth of The Nation reporter.
Other colleagues, notably the Oyo NUJ Chairman, the chairman of the State Correspondents’ Chapel, Oluseye Ojo, and the leadership and members of the Oyo State Government House Press Crew, intervened quickly to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
The journalists at the event threatened to boycott as a result of the development, but were persuaded to do so by several government officials.
