SSS operative beats AIT cameraman at
Obasanjo son’s wedding
on november 10, 2013 at 11:22 am in news
… Journalists threaten to boycott Governor
Elechi’s functions
BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI- IT was both a show of hypocrisy
and shame as an operative of the State
Security Service; SSS posted to Ebonyi State
Government House, Abakaliki, Mr. Emeka
allegedly pushed and punched the
cameraman of Africa Independent Television,
AIT, in the State, Mr. Chineye Sunday on the
face as he (cameraman) was trying to
establish shots of dignitaries at an event in
Ikwo local government area of the state,
Saturday.
The event which was the traditional marriage
ceremony of the former President of Nigeria,
General Olusegun Obasanjo’s son, Bisoye
Obasanjo and his wife, Chigozie Nwenyi at
Okpuitumo, Ndufu Ikwo Development Centre
of Ikwo LGA was almost ruined, if not for the
display of comportment and maturity
exhibited by the AIT cameraman during and
after the attack on him.
Vanguard gathered that Mr. Sunday left the
scene of the event with bruises, swollen face
and a damage camera worth over a N1
million.
Narrating his ordeal, “The thing is that similar
incident has happened before during a
function and it was a National Assembly
member, Hon. Tobias Okwuru that had to
intervene in the matter.
After that incident, the next one was the one
that happened at Ikwo during Chief Obasanjo’
son’s traditional marriage yesterday
(Saturday).
Immediately I entered where dignitaries were
and established my shots the guy (SSS
operative) who was at my back pushed me.
When that happened, I now started
staggering with myself and my equipment.
“I went to the guy and asked him, why he did
what he did; the next thing was for him to
punch me close to my eyes. It was a terrible
incident that happened before dignitaries and
even before the ADC to the Governor and if it
was possible the ADC would have beaten up
the guy but he restrained himself.
“My camera that was damaged is worth over
N1 million and I cannot use it again to cover
any function for government or anybody else
until it is repaired or a new one purchased for
me”. He lamented.
Speaking with a cross section of journalists in
the state, some of them expressed
disappointment over the incident and called
on the state government to deal decisively
with the SSS personnel, if not they would
never cover any event involving the Governor
since their
safety cannot be guaranteed.
“We are shocked, embarrassed and
humiliated by this development. This SSS
guys are fond of obstructing us from doing our
job both in the Government House and at the
Stadium; and the most annoying aspect of it is
that they know us very well. We are all in the
Government House. We are not strangers to
them.
“We wonder who gave them the audacity to
attack us. It is only in Ebonyi State we feel
threatened to do our job. These guys need
training and retraining; they shouldn’t vent
their angers on us if their condition of service
is not acceptable to them. They should allow
us to do our job while they do theirs.
Journalists world over are harmless persons”.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of
Nigeria Union of Journalists, South East Zone,
Mr. Christopher Isiguzo who stated that he
was yet to study the intricacies surrounding
the case, condemned it entirely. He added
that the zone would reach out to State
Director of SSS with a view to ensuring that
such development does not occur in future.
Meanwhile, the ADC to Ebonyi State Governor,
Mohammed Tijan, Chief Security Officer, CSO,
and Chief Detail appealed to Journalists in the
state to express calm over the incident as the
affected SSS operative would not escape any
disciplinary measure.
However, effort made by Journalists in the
State to get the attention of the SSS operative
proved abortive as he did not want to discuss
the matter. Ends

When a picture of a man being punished by soldiers was posted online, many fools said that's the only way Nigerians can learn.....

I wonder what those imps will say about this...

SSS has lost steam, dignity, professionalism and ethos....just a mere extension of kukuru defence now...with over reliance on Uzis not on intelligence for which they were known!