The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has called for a transparent and independent investigation into the alleged assault of the Editor of Pinnacle Daily, Sunday Michael Ogwu, by personnel of the police and Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Lugbe, Abuja.

The Centre condemned the reported incident, which allegedly involved physical assault with an electric cable and the destruction of Ogwu’s mobile phone, describing it as a disturbing threat to press freedom, journalists’ safety and citizens’ right to document the activities of public authorities.
WSCIJ also expressed concern over the response of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command following the incident.

According to the Centre, rather than addressing the allegations and identifying the personnel involved, the Command, in a statement issued on August 21, 2026, focused on Ogwu’s reported failure to honour an invitation to the Command Headquarters to make a statement.

The Centre said the police statement suggested that the journalist preferred to circulate videos of the incident on social media in what appeared to be an attempt to mobilise public sentiment.

WSCIJ described the approach as worrisome, stressing that a journalist who alleges assault by security personnel should be free to seek medical attention, obtain legal advice and consult professional or press freedom organisations without such actions being interpreted as an attempt to frustrate an investigation.

“He also has the right under the law to publicly speak about his experience,” the Centre said, adding that Ogwu had reportedly sought medical attention for injuries sustained during the incident and indicated his willingness to meet with the police in the company of his lawyers.

WSCIJ urged the police to ensure that any engagement with Ogwu is conducted in a manner that respects his rights, dignity and safety.

The Centre said the incident was also a reflection of the broader challenges facing journalists and citizens within Nigeria’s civic space.

It cited its 2025 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report, titled Silenced Voices, Shrinking Space: Civic Freedoms Under Pressure, which documented 245 incidents of violations affecting journalists and civic freedoms during the year, including harassment, intimidation, arrests, assault and other forms of interference.

WSCIJ noted that the Nigeria Police was the state agency most frequently implicated in the violations documented in the report.

Against this backdrop, the Centre called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to place the investigation under an independent mechanism outside the command structure allegedly implicated in the incident.

It also urged the police to establish the personnel and units deployed to the Lugbe Federal Housing Estate on August 19, 2026, determine their mandate and preserve and review all relevant evidence.

Such evidence, it said, should include deployment records, operational orders, patrol logs, CCTV footage, body-camera recordings where available and any other material capable of establishing what happened.

WSCIJ further called for appropriate accountability if wrongdoing is established, including an apology and compensation to Ogwu for his destroyed mobile phone and medical expenses arising from the alleged assault.

The Centre also urged security and law enforcement agencies to issue and enforce clear directives affirming the right of journalists to carry out legitimate reporting and document public operations without obstruction, seizure of equipment or physical harm.

It stressed that protecting journalists and safeguarding citizens’ civic freedoms were essential to maintaining accountability and public trust in security institutions.