Thugs invade Ogun NUJ Secretariat beat members

 

Following the service of Appeal and stay of execution notice on the judgement of the Nigeria Industrial Court, Ibadan, on Mr. Soji Amosu and three others, thugs and miscreants have attacked members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council at the state Secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

The members were attacked on Monday, March 1st 2021, by thugs allegedly led by Mr. Soji Amosu, Ayokunle Ewuoso and three others.

The suspected thugs who reportedly came to the Secretariat of NUJ violently break the entrance to the Chairman's office and vandalized doors of the hall and the newsroom. 

No fewer than two female members of the Ogun State NUJ were beaten by thugs during the attack and they were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Ogun State NUJ Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mrs. Omolola Adeyinka who reported the incident at Ibara Police Station, described the invasion as barbaric, uncivilized and distasteful act.

She queried how and why someone will lack respect for the Union and leadership of the Union in Nigeria to the extent that he would invade the Secretariat with thugs to beat and chase out bonafide members.

“Why would they bring thugs to beat people, look at how they were harassing us. They broke the doors, saying negative things about the national President and Secretary and we are just looking them without provocation.

“Because we appeal and filed stay of execution of the judgement, they became agitated and started misbehaving, bringing thugs and acting violently, this is uncalled for”, she noted.

It was gathered that the violent attack has been reported at the Ibara Police station, Abeokuta, where investigation is ongoing before being charged to court.

Also speaking about the incident, one of the tenants who pleaded anonymity described the attack on female members as uncivilized and uncultured.

“I don't think this kind of thing can happen among butchers, road transport workers, not to talk of the respected members of the pen profession.

“I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how female members of NUJ were beating by hoodlums and someone who claims to be the Chairman was the one supervising the attack'

“It is as if the NUJ President and others at their National level are sleeping while their house in Ogun state has been taken over by thugs, in fact, I am afraid of this new people oo'. She concluded

Stakeholders in the state are now calling on the Headquarters of NUJ to take a decisive decision on the union in the state in order to protect the name and image of the profession, as the union office at the cradle of journalism seems to occupied by thugs.