The
soldiers who participated in the assault on journalists in Umuahia today,
Tuesday, will face disciplinary actions for their “unfortunate” misconduct, the
Nigerian Army has said.
At least two journalists were reportedly
assaulted by troops in the Abia State capital in the afternoon. The soldiers
accused the journalists of filming them as they rode by the state secretariat
of Nigerian Union of Journalists.
The journalists said the troops smashed their
mobile phones and other electronic devices during the incident, which occurred
when the soldiers were allegedly trying to barricade the residence of
separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The soldiers also clashed with supporters of
Mr. Kanu as they attempted to place him on house arrest.
The incident has sparked tension across the
state, prompting Governor Okezie Ikpeaze to declare a dusk-to-dawn curfew in
the state’s commercial town of Aba.
In his reaction to the soldiers’ assault on
journalists, Oyegoke Badamosi, a spokesperson for the Nigerian Army 14 Brigade
in Ohafia, said preliminary investigation has revealed that soldiers indeed
launched aggression against the reporters who were on their legitimate duties.
“What happened was that while the soldiers on
patrol near the Abia State NUJ Secretariat, they noticed some people filming
them.
“Unfortunately, they seized and damaged their
recording devices; an iPad and 2 mobile phones. Preliminary investigation shows
that the items belong to journalists on their legitimate duties.
“Consequently,
the Commander 14 Brigade and Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division
waded into the matter which has since been resolved amicably.”
Mr. Badamosi, a major, however, said some media
outlets had exaggerated the incident.
“The magnitude is not as was reported,” he
said.
- PT
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