About 20 soldiers of ‘Operation Python Dance’ yesterday invaded the Abia state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), beating up journalists and smashing their phones, iPads and other gadgets in the process.
The soldiers, who were parading the streets of Umuahia on a show of strength under the exercise, alleged that the journalists took pictures of their exercise without authorisation.
The soldiers, numbering over 200, drove through the streets in 15 Armour Personnel Carriers (APCs), 20 trucks and six Hilux vans.
On getting to the Abia Tower where the Abia NUJ state secretariat is located, three of the trucks parked and about 20 soldiers jumped down.
The soldiers then ran upstairs to the Press Centre and invaded the state NUJ council office, where journalists and correspondents gathered.
“The soldiers surrounded the journalists and cocked their rifles, alleging that someone took their pictures when the show of force was ongoing”, Ugochukwu Ugorji, correspondent of the Nation Newspaper said.
“In the process, some journalists were slapped and beaten up by the soldiers, who also collected their phones, iPad and smashed them on the ground. They later took away some of the phones.
“One of the journalists slapped is a traditional ruler and a national trustee of NUJ, Ezeogo Bonny Okoro.
“When some of us tried to introduce ourselves as journalists to the military men, they shouted at us, saying: “Shut up, I will kill you”, while another shouted: “Kill them like chicken. After all the damage was done, the soldiers left”.
Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of NUJ in Abia State, John Emejor, condemned the action of the soldiers.
Emejor said since the soldiers were doing their show of strength, which they called Operation Python Dance, “Journalists have the right to cover it and alert residents of the city not to panic when they see such large number of soldiers”.
He said by their action, the soldiers had desecrated the NUJ Press Centre, adding that the development was a threat to journalism practice in the state.
Emejor said no journalist took pictures of the soldiers’ operation in the state capital to provoke the maltreatment.(Premium Times)
