Assault on Press Freedom: Immigration Officers Accused of Attacking Journalists in Oyo
In a shocking turn of events, immigration officers in Oyo State have been accused of assaulting journalists, including Seun Falomo, a cameraman with Galaxy Television. The incident unfolded shortly after an official from the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) detained an immigration officer for a traffic violation.
Sources allege that in retaliation, immigration officers arrested the OYRTMA official, subjected him to dehumanizing treatment, and detained him at their Zone F headquarters. Efforts to conceal this act led to further aggression towards journalists covering the event, culminating in the assault of Falomo and threats against his life.
The confrontation escalated when officers attempted to confiscate Falomo’s camera, leading to a physical altercation where he was pushed, threatened at gunpoint, and ultimately rescued by colleagues and bystanders.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar assault by Department of State Service (DSS) operatives on another journalist in the state. The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Comrade Ademola Babalola, expressed deep concern over these events, urging journalists to exercise caution around security operatives.
Despite attempts, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, in Oyo State, Olufemi Adetunji, has not provided any comments on the matter. The journalism community awaits a formal statement, expected to be released tomorrow, addressing these troubling attacks on press freedom.
