The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council has condemned the unwarranted assault on a photojournalist with Daily Trust newspapers, Mr. Ikechukwu Ibe an Army Captain.

The Union while noting that Mr Ibe was carrying out a legitimate assignment of news gathering when he was attacked on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Jabi area of Abuja, called on the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai to take the necessary action to bring the perpetrators to book.

Journalist Ibe was brutally assaulted leaving him with multiple lacerations and swollen eyes and the military officers confiscated his camera, removed and destroyed the memory card just because he took some pictures of a vehicle that ran into a restaurant in Jabi.

They also tore his clothes before bundling him into a Black Maria and took him to Life Camp Police station, before he was bailed.

The Secretary of NUJ, Rafat Salami said “The NUJ to say the least is disheartened over the ugly incident. Rather than treat journalists as partners in nation building, security agents have consistently treated journalists as enemies who must be crushed.”

She said it is more saddening that the assault took place just as Nigeria is preparing to commemorate the “International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists” on November 2.

“This is unacceptable in a civilized and democratic nation where the Rule of Law must be allowed to thrive. It is a clear case of gross violation of the rights of the journalist,” she added.

The NUJ however, called on the government to bring the perpetrators of the act to book and to immediately replace his camera.

Adding that they should adequately compensate Mr Ibe for the brutalization meted on him and tender an unreserved apology from the highest authority while putting up machinery to prevent future incidences.