Clement Adeyi, Osogbo
There was palpable tension in Ilesa, Osun State, on Monday when aggrieved youths staged a street protest against disconnection of electricity by the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Daily Sun gathered that about four journalists were attacked by the suspected hoodlums during the protest organized by some irate youths.
As at the time of filing this report, the attacked journalists were on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
Daily Sun gathered some youths in Olomilagbara and Bolorunduro communities in Obokun Local Government Area reportedly attacked the Ilesa business hub of IBEDC on Thursday and beat the staff of the company.
Consequently, the IBEDC management disconnected the electricity and threw the entire Ijesa land into darkness.
In reprisal, the aggrieved youths began a protest across the nooks and crannies of the community on Sunday.
When they resumed the protest yesterday, they barricaded the major roads in Ilesa and prevented vehicular movement.
In the process, they transferred aggression on the journalists who were at the scene covering the protest.
They were armed with dangerous weapons such as cudgels, cutlasses with which they destroyed journalists’ cameras, phones, vehicles and other valuable property.
Among the attacked journalists were Rafiu Muhammad of TVC and his camera man, Taiwo Adu, Channels TV reporter , Shittu AbdulFatai and his camera man Rabiu Qaudri.
The protesters also reportedly vandalised the car belonging to the General Manager of Unique FM, Ilesa.
The management of the organisation ordered the station to be shut down for three hours until normalcy was restored by the police and other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Osun State High Court sitting ihas directed IBEDC to restore the electricity to the area pending the determination of the motion on notice to be filed by the plaintiffs.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) Osun State Council has condemned the attack, describing it as ‘uncivilised and barbaric’.
The union, through a statement signed by the Chairman, Kehinde Ayantunji, said the union would do everything possible to ensure that the perpetrators face the wrath of the law.
“We are shocked and seriously disturbed by the ruthless attack on four of our members today in Ilesa. We consider such attack as bestial, barbaric and uncivilised; and a declaration of war against journalists who were performing their constitutional responsibility,” Ayatunji said.
“It is indeed regrettable that those who were striving hard to ensure that the legitimate grievance of the people are brought to the attention of concerned authorities suddenly became subjects of attack.
“We are calling on security agencies to swing into action and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book without delay.”
Also, the Osun State House of Assembly has directed the House Committee on Public Petition to meet with management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and representatives of affected areas in Ijesa land to resolve the crisis.
The Speaker of the House, Dr Najeem Salaam, gave the directive after a member representing Ilesa West, Mr Tajudeen Famuyide, raised the issue Under Matter of Public Importance.