It was both a show of hypocrisy and shame as
an operative of the State Security Service; SSS posted to
Ebonyi State Government House, Abakaliki, Mr. Emeka
allegedly pushed and punched the cameraman of Africa
Independent Television, AIT, in the State, Mr. Chineye
Sunday on the face as he (cameraman) was trying to establish
shots of dignitaries at an event in Ikwo local government area
of the state, Saturday.
The event which was the traditional marriage ceremony of the
former President of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo's
son, Bisoye Obasanjo and his wife, Chigozie Nwenyi at
Okpuitumo, Ndufu Ikwo Development Centre of Ikwo LGA
was almost ruined, if not for the display of comportment and
maturity exhibited by the AIT cameraman during and
after the attack on him.
Vanguard gathered that Mr. Sunday left the scene of the event
with bruises, swollen face and a damage camera worth over a
N1 million.
Narrating his ordeal, "The thing is that similar incident has
happened before during a function and it was a National
Assembly member, Hon. Tobias Okwuru that had to intervene
in the matter.
After that incident, the next one was the one that happened at
Ikwo during Chief Obasanjo' son's traditional marriage
yesterday (Saturday).
Immediately I entered where dignitaries were and established
my shots the guy (SSS operative) who was at my back pushed
me. When that happened, I now started staggering with
myself and my equipment.
"I went to the guy and asked him, why he did what he did; the
next thing was for him to punch me close to my eyes. It was a
terrible incident that happened before dignitaries and even
before the ADC to the Governor and if it was possible the
ADC would have beaten up the guy but he restrained himself.
"My camera that was damaged is worth over N1 million and I
cannot use it again to cover any function for government or
anybody else until it is repaired or a new one purchased for
me". He lamented.
Speaking with a cross section of journalists in the state, some
of them expressed disappointment over the incident and called
on the state government to deal decisively with the SSS
personnel, if not they would never cover any event involving
the Governor since their
safety cannot be guaranteed.
"We are shocked, embarrassed and humiliated by this
development. This SSS guys are fond of obstructing us from
doing our job both in the Government House and at the
Stadium; and the most annoying aspect of it is that they know
us very well. We are all in the Government House. We are not
strangers to them.
"We wonder who gave them the audacity to attack us. It is
only in Ebonyi State we feel threatened to do our job. These
guys need training and retraining; they shouldn't vent their
angers on us if their condition of service is not acceptable to
them. They should allow us to do our job while they do
theirs. Journalists world over are harmless persons".
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of
Journalists, South East Zone, Mr. Christopher Isiguzo who
stated that he was yet to study the intricacies surrounding the
case, condemned it entirely. He added that the zone would
reach out to State Director of SSS with a view to ensuring that
such development does not occur in future.
Meanwhile, the ADC to Ebonyi State Governor, Mohammed
Tijan, Chief Security Officer, CSO, and Chief Detail appealed
to Journalists in the state to express calm over the incident as
the affected SSS operative would not escape any disciplinary
measure.
However, effort made by Journalists in the State to get the
attention of the SSS operative proved abortive as he did not
want to discuss the matter. Ends
Via: Vanguard
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