Journalist battered by angry workers in osun during unpaid salary protest

Irate workers in Osun State on Tuesday battered journalists from MITV, Abass Okandeji and ONTV reporter, Adeniyi Folorunsho, during a protest.

The incident happened at the State Government’s Secretariat when the journalists in company with their colleagues went to cover the protest by the workers over non-payment of their salaries.

Our correspondent gathered that the network journalists were dealt several blows by the irate workers who thought they were working for a government owned media organisation.

The prompt response of officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and colleagues of the victims prevented a further battering the journalists.

Okandeji, who spoke on the telephone with our correspondent said he was mistaken for a journalist from the media organisation the workers considered to be unfriendly to them.

He said, ” I was treated at the  clinic inside the secretariat, I have chest pain, but Folorunsho has  cut on his hand.  His camera was also damaged by our attackers.”

He said he was at the Ataoja Police Station where he had gone to make a formal report to the police on the attack.

The chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State chapter, Mr. Biodun Olakere, when contacted on the telephone by our correspondent condemned the attack.

He said, “The attack was unfortunate and we condemn it. The NLC chairman has apologised and we have accepted the apology, but we have asked the two gentlemen beaten to identify just one out of those who beat them and we would ensure that that one is dealt with.

” We know that the leadership of the labour union was not behind it, but it was the handiwork of some misguided persons. We will ensure that those who perpetrated the act face the wrath of the law.”