Journalists assaulted, as Buhari commissions project in Kaduna

Three journalists covering the commissioning of the Kakuri, Kaduna Dry Port, in Kaduna, Wednesday, saw hell, as they were brutalized by the armed security personnel deployed to guard the ceremonial venues.

The three pen pushers were the transportation correspondents of AIT/Raypower FM, Enemaku Ojochigbe and Mrs. Taye Adeni of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Also assaulted was a ministry of transportation press unit official, Mrs. Ijeoma Chijioke Adindu who led the journalists.

The news hounds who came from Abuja where denied access to the venue of the Commissioning by the combined team of the army, the Mobile Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) even when they had their accreditation cards on them.

The same journalists had successfully covered the President Muhammadu Buhari’s commissioning of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) new locomotives and train coaches.

All pleas by the the journalists who had even arrived the venue ahead President Muhammadu Buhari, fell on deaf ears. Not even when they explained that they were invited by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to cover the event.

A dark tall mobile police officer with nose mark pictured here personally brutalized the journalists and cocked his gun to shoot at anyone who complained. He also threatened to tear gas the reporters.

The NAN reporter who was punched in the face by the said mobile police man was rushed to the Red Cross mobile treatment bay where she was administered first aid. She was given an injection and the eye was treated.

The reporters sensing more danger retreated as they were denied access to the venue by the overzealous security agencies.

By Idu Jude, Kaduna