On 12 December 2004, policemen assigned to protect the governor of Oyo State (southwestern Nigeria), Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, assaulted two journalists on the orders the governor's chief security officer. The targeted journalists were AbdulRazak Adebayo, of "Daily Trust" newspaper, and Tunde Sanni, of "ThisDay" newspaper. The incident took place in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a memorial prayer session held for the late Adisa Bakare, the father of former minister of works and housing Alhaji Abdulkarim Adisa, who died on 7 December.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - NIGERIA
13 December 2004
Governor's security officers assault two journalists
SOURCE: Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lagos
(MRA/IFEX) - On 12 December 2004, policemen assigned to protect the governor
of Oyo State (southwestern Nigeria), Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, assaulted two
journalists on the orders the governor's chief security officer. The
targeted journalists were AbdulRazak Adebayo, of "Daily Trust" newspaper,
and Tunde Sanni, of "ThisDay" newspaper.
The incident took place in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a memorial
prayer session held for the late Adisa Bakare, the father of former minister
of works and housing Alhaji Abdulkarim Adisa, who died on 7 December.
After the prayers, Adebayo and Sanni approached Governor Ladoja to interview
him. The chief security officer directed the policemen to prevent the
journalists from approaching the governor. In carrying out their superior
officer's directive, the policemen roughly pushed Adebayo and Sanni, along
with other bystanders, into a nearby gutter.
In the scuffle, Adebayo sustained injuries and had to be taken to a nearby
clinic for medical treatment. He also lost his tape recorder.
For further information, contact Ayode Longe, Media Rights Agenda, 10
Agboola Aina Street, off Amore Street, Ikeja, P.O. Box 52113, Ikoyi, Lagos,
Nigeria, tel: +234 1 493 6033, fax: +234 1 493 0831, e-mail:
[email protected], [email protected], Internet:
http://www.internews.org/mra
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MRA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MRA.
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Author
Anonymous (not verified)
