Chaos in National Assembly as Security Agents ‘Assault’ Journalists
Pandemonium erupted at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday after security agents allegedly prevented journalists from accessing the legislative building, sparking chaos and confusion among accredited reporters.
According to reports, a group of security personnel, including Sergeant-at-Arms and Police officers, told journalists they were acting on “orders from above” to deny entry to those without official permanent identity cards to the White House section of the Parliament.
Many journalists, who were left stranded outside the building, explained that they had not yet received permanent identity cards from the National Assembly’s Information Department. Despite their explanations, the security personnel refused to allow entry and turned away those carrying temporary identity papers and clearance.
The situation escalated further when security agents began using verbal abuse against the journalists and, in some instances, resorted to physical assault. During the altercation, Mudashiru Atanda, a photojournalist with TheSun newspaper, sustained injuries. Journalists from The Nation newspaper, Nicolas Kalu, and Gloria Essien from Voice of Nigeria (VON), who attempted to intervene, were also pushed aside in the ensuing chaos.
In the midst of the disturbance, one of the security officers seized the smartphone of Tolu Akinyemi, an accredited journalist with SuperScreen Television, and threatened to ensure she would never get it back.
When contacted for comment, the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) denied issuing any directive barring journalists from the complex, stating they had not authorized such actions.
