A Lagos based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women Matters, has urged government to provide protection for journalists in the course of their duty, saying reporters have been killed, harassed and maimed in the course of their duty.
The call was sequel to the assault and harassment meted to a Lagos-based female journalist, Kehinde Olatunji by one Theophilus Akorede, an aide to gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.
The assault occurred at Jandor’s campaign office in Ikeja at about 8:00a.m. on and was witnessed by another journalist.
It was learnt that Olatunji had honoured an invitation by Lagos State PDP publicity secretary and Chairman Media and Publicity Committee of JandorFunke 2023 Campaign Council, Hakeem Amode, for Jandor’s meeting with Igbo market leaders in Amuwo Odofin.
The journalist was said to have arrived Jandor’s campaign office at exactly 8:00a.m., but there was no sign the event would happen as soon as stated in the invite.
“The reporter had to find a seat in the premises to wait for other newsmen and organisers of the programme.
“A man opposite where she was seated told her she wasn’t supposed to sit there, to which she asked why, and he replied that it was Oga’s seat. The man directed her to the opposite direction, which she went.
“After a while, the man told the reporter to find another seat again, saying he wants to leave the area, and the reporter obliged again and even asked him where she could sit and charge her phone. She was directed to another part of the premises.
“After the reporter had settled down, Akorede approached her and said, “I heard you sat on Oga’s seat, next time you come here and try such, I will bundle you into the gutter. Look at me very well.”
“The reporter, feeling astonished, asked if he also woke up from the gutter that morning. Akorede was angry for being talked to in such a manner and approached her to bundle her as he said.
“He carried her from the seat and was taking her from the premises to make good his words, when a journalist entered and forced him to drop her,” a witness had narrated.
Reacting, Executive Director of Women Matters, Mrs. Olabisi Olayide, said it was disheartening that journalists were subjected to harassment by political thugs, noting that adequate measures should be in place to address such issues.
Contacted, Jandor’s director of communication and strategy, Seun Soyinka, expressed surprise over the attack and promised to reach out to Kehinde.
