Soldiers Invade NUJ Secretariat, Beat Up Journalists In Umuahia
BY RAPHAEL ONYEKACHUKWU, UMAHIA – Hell was let loose on Tuesday in Umahia, Abia State as no fewer than 15 personnel of the Nigeria Army invaded the State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), situated along Aba Road, Umuahia, beat up journalists, destroyed, phones, laptops and other valuables whose monetary value could not immediately be quantified.
According to journalists at the secretariat, the soldiers claimed they saw somebody taking photographs of them from the building.
The Chairman of Council, Mr. John Emejor while confirming the incident, expressed disappointment over the development adding that a National officer of the Union, Mr. Ezeogo Bonny Okoro was slapped several times by one of the soldiers.
Okoro further said; “Our press centre was invaded by soldiers, two journalists lost their IPads and phones, while a national leader in the office was attacked.
“Our stand is that those involved in this attack on innocent journalists should be fished out and punished in line with the constitution of the country.”
When contacted, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, confirmed the incident but requested the chairman of the Council to send the photographs of the damaged office to him.
Some journalists, who reacted to the unprovoked attack on newsmen cautioned that Igbos should be careful with these soldiers during the one month operation “Python Dance”.
One of the journalists said; “If they are behaving this way when the operation is yet to start, I wonder how it will be when their activity formerly kicks off this Friday.
If they can throw caution to the wind and attack journalists inside their press centre, then anybody anywhere can be attacked at the least provocation.”
Another journalist, whose name is withheld for security reasons said; “I have a feeling that the soldiers are acting a script which is not far from provoking chaos as an excuse to kill. So, there is need to avoid anything that will make them realize their brief.
