The Founding Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Dayo Aiyetan, has been physically assaulted by suspected political thugs while covering the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Aiyetan disclosed this in a series of tweets on his official Twitter page on Saturday.
The senior journalist said he was beaten while his phone, car key, purse and a pouch containing his debit cards, Nigeria and US driver’s licenses and other items were missing, adding that the incident occurred at Agwan Fulani Town Hall polling unit in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
He said, “I was attacked this morning in Gwagwalada while covering the election. There was disturbance and a guy was trying to upturn the canopy on top of INEC officials. I was recording the scene when a guy told me to stop recording. I did.
“In seconds, I was surrounded by hordes of people. Miscreant, thugs etc. I was beaten, my clothes turn and my phone, car key, purse and a pouch containing my debit cards, Nigeria and US driver’s licenses and other items. They took everything on me. But I fought to keep my camera.
“A guy brought out a knife and tried to stab me. I kicked him with my steel toed Skechers and … Fortunately, apart from a few scratches, I escaped unhurt. There was a policewoman at the PU and I was just praying that she wouldn’t try to intervene cos they would have beaten her too.
“Place was Agwan Fulani Town Hall. Kudos to CSP Hamza Sadiq, DPO Gwagwalada, a committed, passionate officer, who has recovered my phone for me. I also have my car key. But my voter’s card, driver’s licenses, debit cards etc and purse are still missing.
“It is obvious that the Nigerian police does not have the men to cover the elections. They will tey their best but they don’t have the manpower, no matter what the police chiefs say.”
I was attacked this morning in Gwagwalada while covering the election. There was disturbance and a guy was teying to upturn the canopy on top of INEC officials. I was recording the scene when a guy told me to stop recording. I did. In seconds, I was surrounded by hordes
— DAYO AIYETAN (@dayoaiyetan) February 25, 2023