JOURNALISTS CONDEMN ATTACK ON COLLEAGUES WHILE ON OFFICIAL DUTY

The council in reaction to the ugly development in a statement made available to journalists by the Chairman, Kehinde Ayantunji, described the attack as uncivilized and barbaric, noting that the journalists could have lost their lives if not for some good Samaritans who rushed to their rescue.

“We are shocked and seriously disturbed by the ruthless attack on four of our members today in Ilesa. We considered such attack as bestial, barbaric and uncivilised; and a declaration of war against journalists who were performing their constitutional responsibility.

“It is indeed regrettable that those who were striving hard to ensure that the legitimate grievance of the people is brought to the attention of concerned authorities now became subject of attack. The attack was so brutal to the extent that Taiwo Adu of TVC and Kadir Kabir of Channels could not stand on their feet as at the time of issuing this release.

‘They were callously hit with bottles and various dangerous objects and held captive for about an hour with serious humiliation. They are currently on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospitals, Osogbo. Their cameras and other gadgets worth millions of Naira were completely destroyed’, the statement said.

“While we recognise the right of protest as a fundamental right, it must not be allowed to degenerate to the level of being hijacked by hoodlums in which journalists, unfortunately, became victims.We are calling on security agencies to swing into action and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book without delay’, Ayantunji stated.