JOURNALIST BRUTALISED BY SOLDIER AT THE PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
journalist reporting for the Leadership Newspapers, Mr Anayo Onukwugha, was brutalised on Thursday by one of the soldiers manning the main entrance of the new terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.
Onukwugha, who was at the airport at about 9.30am to cover the inauguration of the international wing of the airport by President Muhammadu, was hit several times with a stick.
The soldier, who wore no tag, ignored all entreaties from Onukwugha, who had identified himself as a journalist, assigned to cover the inauguration at the airport.
Speaking with newsmen at the gate to the venue of the event, the reporter, who felt dehumanised by the action of the soldier, said, “They (soldiers) were pushing back the crowd that came for the event and I identified myself to the soldier as a journalist.
“But that did not mean anything to him as he began to hit my legs with a stick.”
Having been denied access to the inaguaration venue, Onukwugha and other journalists were forced to leave.
One of the security agents in mufti had told one of the journalists that they were from Aso Rock and were not authorised to allow journalists without tags onto the premises.
Journalists from Daily Trust, The PUNCH, Daily Independent, New Telegraph and The Sun were among those turned back by the security agents, despite that the journalists showed the soldiers their identification cards.
(The Punch)
More Stories
OYO LAWMAKER CALLS FOR TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING
Anthony Ogunsola, a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, has cited growing security risks and exploitation associated with...
ANAMBRA GUBER: AAC CHOOSES WOMAN TO CHALLENGE SOLUDO IN NOVEMBER ELECTION
The African Action Congress (AAC) has chosen Miss Chioma Ifemeludike as its nominee for the governorship of Anambra State in...
OSUN GOVERNMENT LIFTS CURFEW AMIDST COMMUNAL CLASHES
Erin-Osun, Ifon, and Ilobu communities are now subject to a 12-hour curfew instead of the previous 17-hour one set...
KADUNA APPROVES RELEASE OF N3.8BN FOR PENSIONERS
N3.8 billion has been released to the Kaduna State Pension Bureau by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani in order to...
CRIME: MAN BEATS 27-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO DEATH IN LAGOS
Agency Report The Police in Lagos State have detained a man for allegedly beating his 27-year-old daughter to death. The...
VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT LOST IN SUSECTED GAS BLAST AT BORNO WORKSHOP
At a Borno State Mechanical Workshop in Maiduguri, a wildfire that is thought to have been started by a gas...