The media was not spared during the #ENDSARS protests and mob attack that followed across the country. Attacks on Journalists, media houses and other incidents are listed below
*Journalist shot in Kogi
A correspondent of The Sun Newspaper in Kogi Sate Emmanuel Adeyemi, was on Monday shot by unknown persons in Lokoja, the state capital according to Dailytracker.com.ng
Adeyemi was said to be on his way to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists when he was shot.
The gunshots in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital followed the resumption of looting in another warehouse in Zone 8 area.
*Brutalisation of Vanguard Reporter/Photojournalist
Police brutality on Akpokona Omafuaire a reporter/photojournalist with Vanguard Newspaper, Friday, October 23, 2020, on his way to an official assignment during the 48hours curfew imposed by the Delta State Governor.
*Report from Vanguard Newspaper states that “overzealous police officers at Oviwian-Aladja Police Station, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, battered Omafuaire, cutting and whipping him with cutlass and butt of the gun.”
*Attack of The Nation, AIT, Punch reporters
The Nation Newspaper, Lagos, Africa Independent Television (AIT) Benin and journalists working with Punch Newspaper and other media organisations who are covering the protest have also been confirmed attacked. This has also led to the forced closure of many media organisations.
*Burning of TVC, Max FM
Arson attack on Television Continental (TVC) as well as the molestation of the journalists and other media professionals working in the establishment by a mob.
“I tried hard to locate my office, I used my red mug to locate it.
All my books burnt. Billions of Naira equipment burnt.
They came with Okadas and guns and petrol, they looted women dresses.
Looted what they could carry, took their time before they set the whole place on fire…
They initially passed and missed the TVC location, then one of them saw the signboard.
They were many with Okadas and armed. But here we are, we are back.”
Babajide Kolade
– Otitoju On Journalists Hangout
READ ALSO: IPC CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS, MEDIA HOUSES
*Attack of The Nation office
In yet another instance, the offices of The Nation newspaper, also in Lagos, were attacked and some vehicles burnt by suspected hoodlums.
” They poured petrol on the frontage of the building and set fire to it. Some of the vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze, others vandalized. Many boys came thereafter and swooped on the office, looting everything they could lay their hands on.
” These include desktop computers, laptops, air conditioners and other office equipment. At the time of the attack, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Mr. Victor Ifijeh, was among those trapped within the office while the fire raged on.
- Adeniyi Adesina, Editor, The Nation
*Assault of Channels TV security men
Assault on some security personnel attached to Channels Television that led to the temporary halting of broadcasts by the station.
*Attack of Journalists in Osun by a mob
Attack on Toyin Yusuf, a journalist with Osun State Broadcasting Corporation and another member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists by some angry youths while covering the protests in the state.
*Harassment of Arise TV crew
Prevention of an Arise TV crew from carrying out their legitimate duty at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, by a group of soldiers also today, Wednesday, October 21.
*Brutalization of Punch journalists
October 20 brutalization of two journalists with The Punch newspaper, Mr. Femi Dawodu and Mr. Segun Odunayo, by over 20 policemen while they were covering the #EndSARS protests in the Alausa area of Lagos. The journalists were recording protest activities in the area when the policemen accosted them and ordered them to stop recording.
Upon identifying themselves as journalists, the policemen furiously attacked and subsequently took them to the Alausa Police Station where they were further brutalized and asked to change the narrative of their recording. Before they were released, they were warned that the police will come after them if any negative reports about the police were published.
*Attack on Complete Sports office
The head office of Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspapers in Okota, Lagos, Nigeria has been attacked by hoodlums.
The hoodlums took advantage of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government in the wake of the violence and looting that engulfed the state in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in the country, to carry out the attack.
In a signed statement, Group Managing Director of Complete Sports, Dr. Mumini Alao, said: “The hoodlums came very early on Sunday morning, 25 October 2020.
“They attacked our office security guards, tied them up and proceeded to ransack several offices in the building.
“Luckily for us, one of the guards escaped raising the alarm, thus forcing the fleeing hoodlums to abandon some of their loot which included a Toyota Corolla car, Apple desktop computer, HP laptop computer and several GSM phones taken from our premises.
StockWatch office looted
Stockwatch office in Lagos was looted during the clash in Fagba area of the state. Properties including computers, furniture and generating set were taken away.
–Publisher, Abayomi Obabolujo
Vandalisation of The Pilot
- * Compiled from statements by Internationational Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda and media reports
