Police personnel assault The Guardian reporter

The Guardian reporter, Eniola Daniel, was beaten by policemen at the scene while covering the demolition of the shanties on the right of way of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway on Sunday.

Daniel had begun capturing the burning of the shanties on the highway police personnel in plainclothes slapped him from behind before other security men dragged him into a Black Maria.

Despite identifying himself with his press card, a policeman said, “You are a bastard, we will move you to Badagry and no one will get you out.” All entreaties only yielded to more beating and his phone was seized and smashed.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the police led by commander Shola Jejeloye, Daniel said, “I got a call from the company’s security supervisor Bello that the Lagos Taskforce were burning tyres and destroying shops along the road; I got to the scene past 10 am and started taking shots.

“But in less than three minutes, a man on plain uniform suddenly approached me and started slapping me from behind, other security men bearing arms ran to support him, punching me. They dragged me into a Black Maria stationed nearby.

“Before I was dragged, I had brought out his identity card and showed it to them, but that did not move the power-drunk policemen.

“About 10 minutes in the vehicle, Jejeloye sent one of the men to open the van and released me and my smashed phone returned to me, with the instruction that all the shots taken must be deleted.

When The Guardian reached out to the Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Muyiwa Adejobi, he told The Guardian, “why will they harass a journalist when they are not on illegal duty?, my brother, I will see Jejeloye tomorrow, please, go to the hospital and treat yourself.”