Journalist jailed by A/Ibom agency regains freedom

A female journalist, Mary Ekere allegedly assaulted by thugs working for the chairman of the Akwa Ibom state Environmental /Waste Management Agency and hurriedly tried and remanded in prison custody on Monday has regained her freedom.

Our correspondent gathered that the thugs working as members of the task force had stripped the journalist naked, accusing her of taking photographs of their operations at Ibom Plaza, in Uyo, the state capital.

Ekere, who works for The Post Newspaper, based in the state was walking along the street where the Ibom Plaza is located when she saw the task force members seizing goods belonging to street traders when she decided to take pictures of the events.

But, the thugs irked by the journalist’s action allegedly beat her to a state of stupor, stripped her naked and subsequently, dragged her into a waiting vehicle.

According to Miss Ekere, “I was taken to a sanitation court, but unfortunately, the magistrate was not around and l was remanded in prison custody.”

She was subsequently, arraigned the following day and after pleading not guilty to the charges levelled against her, she was granted bail in the sum of N10, 000.

But, the Chairman of the Waste Management Agency, Prince Ikim ordered that she should be sent back to the prison in breach of the bail granted her by the court.

However, the journalist was released on Wednesday following public outcry and agitations from journalists and other interest groups in the state who condemned her arrest, brutalization and incarceration.

But, criticisms have continued to trail the action of the government agency. The latest coming from the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) that has demanded an unreserved apology from state government and other reliefs.

Chairman of the state chapter of NAWOJ, Comrade Uduak Ekong in a telephone interview with our correspondent wondered why Miss Ekere would be forced to spend two nights in prison custody even after meeting the bail terms.