Nigerian Military Apologises For ‘Unauthorised’ Raid On NUJ Press Centre In Abia
After Tuesday’s raid on its Press Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, the Nigerian Military has apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Recall that some Nigerian soldiers had stormed the Abia State Council of the NUJ on Tuesday afternoon, where they destroyed two iPads and phones belonging to some journalists.
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The soldiers were reported to have also slapped one of the union’s national leaders identified as Ezeogo Bonny Okoro.
It was gathered that the military men descended on journalists at the NUJ office for covering their activities.
The Commander, 14 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Brigadier General Abdul Kalifah Ibrahim, who visited the NUJ office, apologised for the “unauthorised” attack, promising to take disciplinary actions against soldiers involved.
Similarly, the deputy Director of Information, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Col Musa Sagay, also visited the NUJ office in Umuahia.
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Sagay, who represented the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major Gen. Adamu Abubakar, decried the unholy incident.
Col Sagay said, “It is regrettable that this ugly incident happened to a group of people I have known and worked with since 2010-2011 when kidnapping was at its peak in the state and I would not want that cordial relationship to be destroyed.
“I am in Umuahia on behalf of my boss Gen Abubakar who is the commander of 82 Div Enugu to express our concern over what happened on Tuesday which is not the normal way we operate.
“I want to assure you that all those who took part in the action against journalists will be fished out and dealt with accordingly. The Operation Egwu Eke (Python Dance) will commence from 15th of September to 14th of October and the exercise is not targeted at any group.
“The exercise is targeted at all security flash points in the entire South East geopolitical zone which is the reason behind the army show of force but it is targeted at kidnappings, armed robbery, cultism, insurgency and secession agitators,” he said.
