Practicing journalists in Niger state have expressed serious concern and disappointment over the attack on Voice of America (VOA) reporter, Mustapha Batsari, by the Commissioner of HomeLand Security, Major General Bello Mohammed Abdullahi (rtd).
The incident reportedly occurred at the weekend inside Government House, Minna, when the reporter approached the commissioner to confirm stories on the communal clash in Beji area and the recent banditry attacks in Bosso local government area.
Recounting his ordeal, Batsari stated that he called on the commissioner severally without response and went to his office and he was not on seat.
He added that it took the intervention of people around to save him from the wrath of the commissioner.
“The commissioner who is in charge of the security of lives, threatened my life and tried to confiscate my recording gadget despite the fact that I was not recording the interaction,” he said.
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger state council, condemned the assault on the VOA reporter by the commissioner. The union called on state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to wade into the matter.
In a statement Sunday in Minna, chairman of the NUJ Niger state council, Comrade Abu Nmadu, condemned the action of the Commissioner of HomeLand Security for attacking and assaulting a journalist who was carrying out his lawful duty.
