By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigeria Union of Journalists NUj, has given the Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress , APC) seven days to tender unreserved apology to the Union for assaulting its members, fully compensate for the destroyed equipment and pay hospital bills of Journalists who were attacked by party thugs during Saturday’s governorship primary
Disclosing these demands in Benin- City, the Edo state capital on Sunday, the Edo State Council chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, said the national leadership of the Union gave the directive over the attack on journalists who were covering the primary election of the party on Saturday.
Reports said thugs who invaded the Lushville Hotel venue of the event attacked and beat journalists to a pulp and got their equipment destroyed.
For example, a laptop belonging to a journalist working with the Arise TV, Abraham Godwin, was smashed even in the presence of the security agents present at the centre.
According to Alenkhe, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council met at the directive of the national leadership and we have resolved as follows:
“That the NUJ, Edo State Council, is fully ready to declare a media war against the All Progressives Congress if the following things are not meant.
“That APC, Edo State, is expected to replace all the damaged equipment of journalists that were covering the event on the 17th day of February, 2024, pay medical bills of journalists injured during the attack, apologize to the NUJ at both state and national [levels] over the attack where journalists were manhandled, and their equipment destroyed, where journalists were also prevented from carrying out their legitimate duty.
“This, Edo NUJ Council describe as unacceptable and we condemn this act heavily.
“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, should help fish out all those who were responsible for the attack and ensure that they are prosecuted because the report says that some of them are very known as they never wore masks.
“We want to request very strongly that the management of the Hotel where the incident happened, should make available to us the CCTV footage of the incident and this should be made public and also help the police in their investigations.
“We want to also call on the management of the Hotel to ensure that this footage will be used by us and also be given to the police where some of those who have carried out that act will be arrested and prosecuted.”
