By Asuquo Cletus
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have allegedly assaulted a journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Radio Nigeria Canaan City FM 99.5 in Calabar, Cross River State, during an operation to arrest a woman.
The journalist, Prince Alobi, also alleged that the operatives smashed his two iPhones, beat him despite identifying himself as a journalist and bundled him into the boot of their operational vehicle.
The incident reportedly occurred around 3pm on yesterday at Parliamentary Extension, along Lemna Road, near Northwest Filling Station, Calabar.
Alobi said he heard gunshots from his office in the area and stepped out to find out what was happening after people gathered at the scene.
“I obviously saw it was the NDLEA effecting an arrest, I walked across to see what is happening after telling my station we need to get the news. All I received was a slap from a personnel of the agency that got me blacked out and breaking my glasses to my face,” he said.
The journalist alleged that the assault continued even after he identified himself as a member of the press.
“Even when I was screaming, ‘I am a PRESS man,’ gun hits followed and I was bundled and thrown to the trunk of their Hilux (truck). They collected my iPhones and smashed them both,” Alobi added.
He said the incident had left him in severe pain, particularly around his ribs, and unable to sleep, while the destruction of his phones had disrupted his communication.
“NDLEA, this is 3am, and I can barely sleep from the vicious beatings and pains inflicted on me yesterday. I have been groaning through the night and did not sleep as most especially my ribs, amongst other parts are in severe pain,” he said.
Alobi called for accountability over the incident, questioning why he was allegedly attacked while carrying out his professional duties.
When contacted on Wednesday via a WhatsApp chat with our correspondent , the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA Cross River State Command, Sebastian Lebo, acknowledged the incident and said the command was taking steps to address it.
” Its unfortunate that your colleague was in harms way but he could not identify himself. It’s not just about shouting I am press. He had no tag or ID on him, In all you do safety first. He didn’t observe this, “the Command is aware of the journalist’s incident. Lebo said.
He added that the command would issue an official statement on the incident
