JODER condemns alleged assault on MITV Journalist at Kosofe LG Secretariat

The Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) has condemned the alleged attack on an MITV reporter, Habeeb Adejobi, at the Kosofe Local Government Council Secretariat in Lagos, describing the incident as a grave breach of press freedom.

Adejobi was reportedly assaulted on Wednesday by individuals suspected to be loyalists of the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area, Mr. Moyo Ogunlewe, while covering the screening exercise for newly appointed supervisors and special advisers at the council secretariat.

In a statement issued in reaction to the incident, the Executive Director of JODER, Adewale Adeoye, described the development as both embarrassing and unacceptable in a democratic society.

According to Adeoye, the alleged assault on the journalist brought back memories of the repression and brutality journalists endured during Nigeria’s years of military rule.

He said the timing of the incident was particularly troubling, noting that it occurred at a moment when a new chairman was assuming office.

“This is quite embarrassing. It should not happen in a democracy. The violation of the rights of a journalist in the course of his official duty is condemnable in the strongest terms,” Adeoye said.

The rights advocate called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the individual accused of leading the attack — described as the driver to the council chairman — is brought to justice.

Adeoye also urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to probe the incident, describing the alleged conduct of the chairman’s driver as uncivilised and unacceptable.

“We think it is abnormal for a local government chairman to keep a thug as his driver,” he said.

JODER stressed that journalists must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without intimidation, harassment or violence.

The organisation warned that repeated attacks on media professionals pose a threat to democratic governance and weaken the role of the press in holding public officials accountable.

It therefore called on the relevant authorities to take decisive steps to guarantee the safety of journalists covering political and government activities across Lagos State.