Police Assault Journalist Covering Protest On Social Media Bill

A policeman, Adiogu Eyinnaya assaulted a journalist Tosin Busayo from Roots TV who went to cover the protest on social media and hate speech bills at the National Assembly.

Dozens of protesters on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja demanding that the Senate drop the bill it is considering to regulate social media in Nigeria.

THE WHISTLER learnt that Enyinnaya assaulted Busayo, asking him why he was filming a policeman who asked a procession of protesters to go back.

The protesters started the march at a section of the National Assembly gate when another set moved in through the left flank of the gate.

A policeman closed in on them saying, “Go back. You are not part of this protest. We don’t know you.”

“No. They are Nigerians. They have the right to protest,” came the response of one of the protesters.

While the protest was going on, the journalist continued filming and this did not go well with the policemen who were already closing in on the procession in their numbers.

Eyinnaya, who cut the frame of the most senior of the police officers, whipped the journalist’s hand with his baton, and yanked the camera off Busayo’s grip, before seizing it.

As he gripped it, he tried breaking the flex but the journalist prevented him from doing so.

“Why would you be filming the policemen?” he asked, threatening to take him to the security post.

Some of the journalists close by pleaded with him while others challenged him. The policeman eventually released the camera.

The protest was still on as at the time of this report.

The protesters are asking the legislators to drop the anti-social media bill which seeks to regulate the use of social media.

They also demand the release of Omoyele Sowore, Abba Jalingo and others who are held against court orders