The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Chapel, has condemned the attack, on Saturday, on the Corporation’s crew deployed to monitor the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State.
The Union made the condemnation in a statement by the chairperson and secretary of the BCOS Chapel, Dupe Fehintola and Olamiposi Ishola, respectively.
The BCOS news crew members comprising the reporter, Lekan Shobowale, cameraman, Fólórunsó Abiala and driver, Ope Adegoke, were assaulted by hoodlums at the Onigbongbo area of Lagos State during the election.
The hoodlums, said to have been led by a woman, also damage the equipment of the BCOS news crew member who were carrying out their constitutional assignment.
The BCOS NUJ chairperson stated that the attack was unwarranted and misdirected as the news crew was only carrying out its responsibility.
She also declared that it was obvious that the hoodlums had something to hide during the course of an election that was supposed to transparent.
She called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Lagos State government and the Nigeria Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidence.
This, the NUJ chairperson was with a view to preventing a reccurence and also to bring the perpetrators to book.
“The Union observed that the assault was a misdirected one as the crew was carrying out its responsibility of monitoring and covering the election when the hoodlums pounced on the members.
“The BCOS NUJ wonders how its members would be target of attacks. It was obvious the thugs had something to hide during the election which was supposed to be a transparent and open exercise.
“We hereby call for a thorough investigation into the incident by the INEC, the Lagos State government and the Nigeria police with a view to preventing a recurrence.
“Our news crew members and the NUJ in general will continue to carry out of their surveillance role to restore values and standards in all areas and sectors,” it was stated in the statement.
The NUJ, BCOS Chapel, however, commended some good samaritans and security operatives who quickly came to the rescue of the helpless BCOS news team and helped them to a safe distance.
