Over 10 personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State on Saturday brutalized an Anambra State-based journalist, Izunna Okafor, accusing the media of being the problem of Nigeria.
Mr Okafor was coming from Nnewi where he, alongside others were invited to cover the Anambra South Rally of the Soludo Ambassadors when over 10 staff of NSCDC descended on him.
Recounting his ordeal in the hands of the agency staff, Okafor said trouble started when he wanted to alight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Junction, Awka, from the bus that was conveying him and officials of the NCSDC from the venue of the rally.
He said that after severally informing and reminding the driver that he would alight at the UNIZIK Junction, which he ignored on the instruction of the Civil Defence officers who insisted that everybody must remain in the bus and follow them to the very last bus stop where they themselves would alight.
He then spoke with a loud voice before some other Civil Defence officials and some attendants of the rally in the same bus told the driver to stop for them to alight.
He said when he alighted, he could not see his second phone which fell out inside the bus when the driver was on a high-speed. However, according to him, as he was informing them that his phone fell off inside the bus and that he would want to pick it, the aggressive Civil Defence officers ordered the driver to zoom off without listening to him.
He said as he was stretching his hand to request for the phone from the person who volunteered to pick it for him, one of the Civil Defence officials attached to the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) callously ordered the driver to speed off, and then furiously jammed the door of the bus, leaving him with severe hand injuries caused by the forceful and unexpected locking of the bus door.
Okafor, who was in severe pains said he had no other option but to board another commercial transport to the place where the Civil Defence officers said would be the last bus stop.
According to him, when he got there, as he sought an explanation from the particular officer for his action, the situation escalated further and aggravated to a chaos as the officer began questioning him on what gave him the boldness to ask him such question as a uniformed and armed man.
He said while the Civil Defence officer began to raise his voice at him, he conked his gun while his colleagues, numbering about 11 rushed out and irrationally descended on him, physically assaulting him, kicking and hitting him with gun butts.
Okafor said some of the Civil Defence officers also conked their guns and even threatened to shoot him while beating him up, but for the pleas of some other people who were there witnessing what was happened.
According to him, officers also accused Nigeria journalists of being major part of Nigeria’s problem, while they themselves stand and suffer under the sun to protect the country and her citizens.
According to the journalist, it took the intervention of Mr. Ossy Onuko, the Managing Director of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) to quell the violence.
Despite Okafor eventually retrieving his phone and receiving an apology from the Mr. Onuko, the Civil Defence officers continued threatening him, vowing to track him and further deal with him.
However,Okafor, said he could identify the officers involved in attacking him, saying that he had reported the incident to the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Edwin Okadigbo, who promised to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, the State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, Mr. Edwin Osuala has ordered a thorough investigations into the case.
In a statement by Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Okadigbo ordered the Deputy Commandant in charge of Investigation and Intelligence Department to immediately commence full scale investigation into the matter with a view to bringing anyone found wanting.
Osuala noted that the NSCDC as a reputable paramilitary agency is in good working relationship with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and would stop at nothing in making sure appropriate disciplinary sanctions are meted against any of the personnel found wanting.
“While affirming his unwavering stance against unethical conduct on the part of Officers and Men, the State Commandant further solicited sustained media partnership, cooperation and support of the public in providing timely and relevant information to the Corps in its renewed efforts against security challenges in the State” it stated.
