Officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) manhandled The Nation’s reporter Toluwani Eniola for taking photographs of a road overtaken by refuse overflowing from Oko Filling depot in Igando, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.
A Routine assignment has turned awry for a reporter. The Nation’s Toluwani Eniola was attacked by some Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) workers on Tuesday night for taking a photograph of a road blocked with refuse in Igando, on the outskirts of the city.
The attack was led by Mr Felix Chukwu, a geologist with LAWMA and his assistant, Mr Ismail Agoro, a senior executive officer with the waste agency. They are site managers of the Oko Filling refuse dump site in Igando.
After beating Eniola, they ripped off his clothes and snatched his camera and identification card.
A retired naval officer, Mr Ofe Michael, and some residents of the area, saved the reporter from more blows.
Chukwu and Agoro were detained at the Igando Police Station last night.
Eniola, recounting his ordeal, said : “I was at Igando to do a follow-up on a story about the refuse dump at the area, which has been a source of worry to the residents. After interviewing community leaders and residents at Odubanjo Street, I decided to take some photographs of the road.
“After taking some photographs, I was heading back to the office when a man who identified himself as Mr Felix Chukwu, a geologist with LAWMA accosted me, demanding the reason why I took photographs. I brought out my Identification Card and I told him I work with The Nation. He said I had no right to take any photographs there because the place is a government facility and a restricted area. I wondered when a road leading to a community suddenly became a restricted area.
“He suddenly became aggressive and called one of his bosses, whom he addressed as comptroller on the phone. He then said I should release my camera, threatening he would not let me go. He started struggling with me, and forcefully took my camera.
“He alerted other operators at the area and they came out from nowhere in droves. One of his assistant, whom I identified as Mr Ismail Agoro, Senior Executive Officer, LAWMA, who didn’t even know what happened got there. He too forcefully seized my ID card. He grabbed me on the neck and kicked me , I fell flat on the ground. I was trying to speak but they coudnt let me as another man tore one of the straps of the backpack. Another man took my bag containing my laptop and hit me on the head. I fell again on the ground. I stood up trying to leave the area, another man I coudn’t identify gave me a hard slap on the face. My trouser was ripped off. My shirts changed colour immediately as it became smeared with dirts on their hand.
“As I tried effortlessly to leave the area so as not to be lynched, the daughter of one of the community leaders I interviewed, by name Mr Ofe Michael, was passing by.I told her to please call her dad to rescue me. She was so scared of the mob that she ran back home.
“Mr Chukwu and Mr Agoro refused to give me my ID card and camera, despite pleadings from the residents.
“I left there and went to the Igando Police Station to report the incident. A group of policemen followed me to the dump site and arrested Mr Chukwu Felix and Mr Ismail Agoro. I was not surprised when they blatantly lied that they didn’t touch me. I showed my bag, trousers and some blood stains on my hand to the acting Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the police post.I also told him I had evidences that I was beaten up as some of the people I interviewed witnessed the attack.
“The Acting DPO condemned them for unlawfully withholding my ID Card and camera. I was told to write statement. Mr Felix Chukwu and Mr Ismail Agoro were making frantic efforts to call their boss. Mr Agoro put a call through to one of his bosses and gave it to one of the policemen, obviously to make the police release them.
“As I was leaving the police station, Mr Agoro, who still remained impenitent, was jeering at me. I went home devastated.”
Head of Public Relations of the agency, Mrs Sade Kadiri, described the incident as unfortunate. Kadiri said it should not have happened. She said: “You should have informed us you were coming. Even international journalists take permission so that site managers will attend to them.”
via Tribune
| Posted: at | |
mallorca
Solidstonez
chicco77
dlimelite
TRENDING GISTS 
Houseboy - Angela Okorie Fires Back At Mercy Johnson's Husband After His Post on 'Mad People (VID)
Moses Bliss & Wife, Marie Wiseborn Spark Pregnancy Rumors As They Arrive Canada (Video)
Outcry As Lagos Govt Begins Demolition on Parts of Arowojobe, Mende Estate (Video)
Actress Genevieve Nnaji Appreciates Her Fans, Shares Special Moment From Fer 45th Birthday
How 40yr Old Man Lured 13yr Old Girl With N200 to His House & Held Her From January to March
Liverpool v Tottenham: English Premier League Match,Team News,Goal Scorers and Stats
Bandits Kill 46-Year-Old Nigerian Law Professor, Sarinu Ettor Kabo In Benue State