Photojournalist Brutalized By Security Details To Enugu State Governor’s Wife

When security details to the wife of a public official who have no constitutional role take on the job of harrassing and attacking hapless citizens, more so members of the fourth estate, there is a problem!

According to reports, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Mike Agada, was on Friday, attacked by security details attached to the wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs. Clara Chime.

The despicable act occurred when Agada was busy taking photographs at the burial of an in-law to one of the special advisers to the governor, at Amebota Village, Ukana, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, with Mrs. Chime and other top government functionaries in attendance.

Suddenly, the mobile police officers seized his camera for no obvious reason. Despite the intervention of organisers of the funeral, the policemen smashed the camera into pieces and severally punched and kicked the photojournalist.

As if that wasn’t enough, one of the police officers, Corporal Joshua Ethoti, cocked his gun and threatened to shoot Agada.

It was gathered that the policemen beat up Agada on the suspicion that he took their picture while they were drinking. The camera, a Nikon D300 professional, is said to have a current market value of N700,000.

When contacted on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed that the matter had been reported to his office.

He said, “Yes, I got a call from somebody in NAN who said he was manhandled by mobile policemen attached to the Governor’s wife. I told him that he should write a petition to the command and also send a copy of the petition to the Chief Security Officer to the Governor and the Chief Press Secretary, since the policemen involved are attached to Government House. You know that we don’t condone such things.”

Amaraizu said necessary action would be taken as soon as the command received the petition.