Thisday, National Life reporters beaten up by Doma’s CSO

Written by Daily Trust Sunday, 14 March 2010

ShareTwo reporters – George Okoh of Thisday and Joseph Erunke of National Life Newspapers were  yesterday beaten to a pulp by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Nasarawa State Governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma at a political rally organised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwanga in solidarity with the governor ahead of his re-election bid.

The incident took place at about 3:30pm before many dignitaries who had arrived the venue of the rally, including the state Deputy Governor, John Michael Abdul.

The CSO, Mr. S.L. Jamaa picked offence with the Thisday correspondent because the latter sat on the raised platform to position himself at the public address system for the purpose of recoding. He ordered Mr. Okoh to leave the place, but did not allow him time to park his gadgets including a tape recorder, digital camera and a bag containing a mini laptop and some documents. In the process, the CSO walked up to Mr. Okoh and began to drag him while other fully-armed policemen assisted in manhandling the reporter.

The Thisday correspondent who was dragged on a stony ground by the CSO and subordinate policemen, until he was rescued by a horde of angry political thugs, while the National Life reporter walked up to beg for mercy, thereby incurring the wrath of the uniformed men. He was then, manhandled as he was beaten and injured on his right knee.

Both reporters complained they lost all their gadgets including a laptop, tape recorders, cameras and GSM handsets as well as unspecified amount of cash in the hands of the governor’s chief security aide.