Journalists in Oyo State are demanding for justice for their colleague, Mr. Tony Babatunde Daniel, a freelance Journalist and former staff of 32 FM Radio Station who was allegedly, brutally assaulted by DSS officers on Friday in Ibadan.
The incident, which occurred at the NNPC Filling Station near the State NUJ Press Centre in Iyaganku GRA, has sparked condemnation from the media community, prompting urgent calls for the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice.
Daniel’s harrowing ordeal started around 9:30 am when he was allegedly beaten by the said DSS officers, leaving him seriously injured before he was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
His colleagues, who were angry by the brazen attack on their fellow journalist, have decided to demand for swift and decisive action from the DSS Headquarters to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act.
Daniel recounted the events that transpired at the NNPC Station, where a routine fuel purchase turned into a nightmare of brutality and intimidation at the hands of the DSS officers.
Describing the traumatic experience of being assaulted and threatened (to be killed), he detailed the violent encounter that left him battered and his car damaged.
He also narrated the excessive force and aggression exhibited by the alleged perpetrators.
According to one of the leaders of Oyo NUJ who spoke with PMParrot, Daniel went to the NNPC Filling Station to buy fuel for his car like any other typical Nigerian.
Continued the Oyo NUJ top shot “Daniel was on the queue for almost an hour and when it got to his turn to be attended to, DSS officers in a convoy just drove in and harassed everyone to move saying that they were on official duty and that they must be attended to.
“Daniel politely informed them that he was a journalist too on official duty adding that it was his turn to be attended to.
“This supposed effrontery of Daniel infuriated the DSS officers and they descended on him leaving him in a pool of his own blood.”
The shocking brutality unleashed on Daniel has not only left him physically scarred, but raised troubling questions about the conduct of security operatives entrusted with safeguarding the public.
This heinous act is coming just 24 hours after the FirstNews editor, Mr Segun Olatunji was released from the captivity of the Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA), another security agency in the country.
The brazen attack on a journalist in the course of his duty has reignited concerns about press freedom and the safety of media practitioners, prompting a united front in condemning the wanton violence unleashed by the DSS officers.
The spotlight is firmly on the DSS headquarters to swiftly investigate the incident, identify the perpetrators, and ensure that they face the full force of the law for their reprehensible actions.
Eyewitness account corroborated Daniel’s harrowing account, expressing shock and disbelief at the brutalization meted out by the very officers entrusted with maintaining law and order.
This incident has raised broader concerns about the conduct and oversight of security agencies, highlighting the need for reforms to prevent such flagrant abuses of power.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola
