Editor of an online newspaper, Pinnacle Daily, Sunday Michael Ogwu, was reportedly beaten and had his phone seized by police officers attached to the Lugbe Police Station in Abuja on Wednesday.

The incident has generated wide condemnation in the media space, where it was noted that the brutality occurred while the Editor was covering a demolition exercise at the Lugbe Federal Housing Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday.

Ogwu, who is the immediate-past Group Business Editor of Daily Trust, narrated that during an evening stroll, he came across what appeared to be a joint operation involving police officers and members of a vigilante group and he began documenting the exercise when the officers confronted him.

Narrating his ordeal in a post on his Facebook, Ogwu said the officers seized his phone and ordered some of their colleagues to beat him up.

“I was badly beaten. Eventually, they said they would take me to the station, but suddenly they asked me to leave,” he said.

Ogwu said he later documented the incident and shared it on social media, after which the officers sent people after him. 

He said his phone was seized again.

He also said he identified the police officers involved after seeing “Lugbe Police Station” written on one of the pickup vans used during the operation.

“I saw Lugbe Police Station written on the van of one of the pickups that they came out for the special operation with. I asked them repeatedly to tell me who was the leader of that operation, but they refused,” he said.

In another video posted on his Facebook page, Ogwu said the officers questioned him over whether he had obtained permission to cover the exercise.

He said he told the officers that he did not require permission to document what he considered a public function.

“I told them this is a public function and I don’t think what you are doing is illegal. If you’re carrying out proper work, you shouldn’t be afraid a journalist is covering it. Instead, I was given several strokes of cane and was asked to leave,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in a statement condemned the alleged assault of Ogwu.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Chima Titus Nwokoji, and General Secretary, Sam Diala, FICAN, described the alleged action of the security personnel as unacceptable, saying it amounted to an infringement on press freedom and the fundamental rights of citizens.

The association said the incident was reminiscent of the police brutality that sparked the nationwide #EndSARS protests in 2020 and eventually led to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

It called for an immediate declaration that police officers have no right to arbitrarily seize citizens’ devices or arrest and intimidate people for documenting their activities while performing public duties.

FICAN also demanded an apology to Ogwu within 72 hours, as well as payment of his medical expenses and the cost of repairing or replacing his damaged phone.

The association cited Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, arguing that the provision protects the right of citizens, including journalists, to document the activities of public officials.

“Journalism is not a crime,” FICAN said, stressing that “holding public institutions accountable is a fundamental responsibility of the media”.

The association called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the FCT Police Command to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident.

It demanded that any police officers or VGN personnel found culpable be identified, arrested and subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures.

FICAN also sought full compensation for Ogwu’s damaged phone, reimbursement of his medical expenses and a formal apology to both the journalist and the management of Pinnacle Daily online newspapers.

It further urged the police authorities to direct commands and divisions across the FCT to stop the harassment, intimidation and assault of journalists covering public operations and events.

The association warned against what it described as any attempt to reintroduce SARS-era practices “through the back door”.

“Only a public servant involved in criminal activities would be afraid of being recorded,” FICAN said, arguing that “recording public or security officials performing legitimate duties should instead promote transparency and accountability and should be applauded”.