Oyo visits injured Tribune reporter as NUJ kicks

Governor Abiola Ajimobi
| credits:

Officials of the Oyo State Government on Wednesday visited a Nigerian Tribune reporter, Mr. Laolu Harold, who was allegedly beaten by soldiers attached to the state demolition task force team in Ibadan.

Leading the team was the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye.

Otegbeye, who sympathised with Harold on his hospital bed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, described the incident as unfortunate.

According to him, no responsible government will ask security men to brutalise its citizens.

He said, “This is not a government of brigandage. We did not send anyone to brutalise anybody. We believe in the maintenance of law and order in the urban renewal efforts of government.”

Otegbeye said the state government was committed to the maintenance of law and order, without obstructing the rights of the citizens.

The commissioner, who said the state would be responsible for Harold’s medical bills, noted that the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration was tolerant and would not compromise the rights of the people.

Among those who visited the journalist at the hospital were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo; his Information and Orientation counterpart, Mr. Gbolagade Busari; the Special Assistant on Information and Orientation, Mr. Ademola Solalu; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Mr. Tunde Busari.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state on Wednesday, in a statement by its Secretary, Rotimi Babalola, condemned the attack on Harold.

The statement read, “The assault by the men attached to government demolition team was crude, barbaric and uncalled for.

“Journalists all over the world are known for nosing for news so as to keep the public abreast with happenings.”

It added that those responsible for the journalist’s assault should be made to face the law.