NIGERIAN ARMY INVADE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS OFFICE IN UMUAHIA
By SUNDAY NWAKAMMA
Men of the Nigerian army numbering more than 20 at the early hours of today [12/09/2017], invaded the Abia state headquarters of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, leaving at the wake of the invasion, phones and i-pads, tablets and properties destroyed.
Some of us were at the balcony, viewing the city centre when we heard the siren of some vehicles coming.
The convoy happened to be that of the military, being led by an APC (armoured personnel carrier), who suddenly stopped and started shouting, “look at the journalists, they are there. Looking at this one, he is at the window. You journalists, You journalists!!!”
More than 150 0f them was at the ground floor and surrounded our building with their guns aimed at us.
When they climbed up, they started cocked their guns and pointed at all they saw at the Press CenteR, stating that they were being filmed and photographed, but which was not true.
The over 20 military personnel who came upstairs, had their guns pointed at each and every journalist at the center, ordering us to bring out our phones and started their wanton destruction of all working tools they saw, including my phones I use for work.
Initially, they had ordered us to march down until another of them came up and asked them to leave us.
Meanwhile, the Army PRO, Maj. Gbadamosi and the Abia CP, Adeleye Oyebade has been informed of the development, as well as the Deputy Governor of Abia State.
However, an NUJ National Trustee, Bonny Okoro was manhandled and his I-Pad destroyed, while they threw my phone to the wall several times, used their boot to smash it and eventually used the nuzzle to finish the phone, my only working tool I have as at then.
As at this time, nothing has happened again.
WE GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY THAT NO JOURNALIST WAS KILLED
…BUT MY WORK TOOL IS GONE.