Soldiers from the Nigerian Army 3 Battalion in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, in the early hours of Friday, arrested and handcuffed the South-South Bureau Chief of Galaxy Television, Mr Dele Fasan, for recording a planned labour protest in the metropolis against the economic hardship.
The soldiers also reportedly whisked away human rights activist, Israel Joe to their nearby military barracks, following a mild, rift between him and other activists including Kelvin Ejumudo, and others.
Our correspondent gathered that the planned protest was cancelled after critical stakeholders met and discussed the issues on Thursday night.
The molestation of the television journalist took place at the popular DSC roundabout in Effurun where the soldiers allegedly brutalised and hit him with the butt of their gun.
In the ensuing melee, Fasan was reportedly manhandled to the point that his cameraman fled the scene to avert his arrest.
Eyewitnesses stated that Fasan was picked up by the soldiers in the presence of the police team led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Operations, Aina Adesola.
But Fasan was released by the soldiers following the intervention of the police boss and his (Fasan’s) colleagues from both electronic and print media who appealed to the Army Commander, Major AE Ohegbe, on whose order he was released, and the handcuff pulled off.
Confirming his arrest in a chat with journalists after his release, Fasan said he was “trying to get video clips of the protest scene which was already taken over by security operatives when the overzealous soldiers accosted and manhandled me despite identifying myself by bringing out my identity card which I showed to them.”
Fasan however commended the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Aina Adesola for promptly intervening in the matter.
Also speaking with journalists, the National Secretary of Human Rights Protection Congress, Ejumudo said the Civil Society Organisations came out to ensure that the protest did not hold following the threat across the nation.
“We don’t want any protest at all because when it happens, people will lose their properties. People will lose their money. While we were at the protest venue, we had the proponent (Israel Joe) of the protest for selfish reasons come here.
“We had a one-on-one rift, and he was taken away by security operatives. I will not condone any idea of protest in this state because, at the moment, Nigeria is volatile.”
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Aina Adesola said he was sent to the scene by the Commissioner of Police to maintain peace.
