The continuous assault of journalists and civilians by men of the force in Nigeria is so dire that it is hard to determine the time or season it will stop.
Despite the pile of appeals on different forums, even as recent as the Press Freedom Day, these security personnel would stop at nothing to tug at anyone who raises a chin against them.
Just recently, a journalist with TheCable, Olalekan Fakoyejo, has recounted how he was allegedly assaulted by a soldier during a traffic-related incident in the Ogba area of Lagos State.
Fakoyejo, who serves as Assistant Business Editor at the publication, said the incident occurred on Saturday while he was travelling by tricycle from Ikeja to Ogba.
Speaking in an interview, he explained that the altercation began when soldiers managing traffic near Pleasant Event Centre stopped another tricycle rider and allegedly ordered the driver to climb onto the vehicle as punishment.
According to Fakoyejo, the action contributed to worsening traffic congestion, prompting him to make a remark from his own tricycle.
“The soldier was trying to punish a tricycle driver on a different lane… what he was doing was causing traffic, and I said this is causing traffic,” he said.
He alleged that the soldier overheard his comment, dragged him out of the tricycle, and began issuing threats, insisting that he report himself to other officers.
Fakoyejo said he resisted the order, maintaining that he had done nothing wrong. He further alleged that as he attempted to explain his position to another soldier who approached the scene, the initial officer suddenly slapped him.
Authorities are yet to officially respond to the allegation as of the time of this report.
