Abuja police accused of assaulting journalist during demolition

Sunday Michael Ogwu, the editor of the online newspaper Pinnacle Daily, was allegedly assaulted by police officers and members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Abuja. The incident occurred in the Lugbe area while Ogwu was attempting to document a joint demolition operation.

According to reports, officers from the Lugbe Police Division seized Ogwu’s mobile phone after he began recording the exercise. Despite identifying himself as a journalist, Ogwu was reportedly subjected to physical violence. The Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) stated that Ogwu was beaten with an electric cable. The coalition further alleged that after Ogwu moved away to send a distress message, officers pursued him and subjected him to a second beating.

Ogwu reported that the officers questioned whether he had permission to cover the event, to which he responded that he did not require permission to document a public function. The assault reportedly left the journalist physically injured and his mobile phone severely damaged.