By Osagie Alonge
- Benedict Uwalaka after the assault
On Thursday, August 9, 2012, Benedict Uwalaka, a photo journalist with the Leadership Newspapers was beaten and brutalised during the coverage of the collections of the remains of the late DANA Airlines victims at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
It is suspected that Uwalaka was assaulted by suspected morgue attendants of the hospital.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has however condemned the act describing it as ‘horrifying and unacceptable’ and vowed to bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.
‘I was horrified really, I didn`t learn of the incident until after Ramadan night prayers. I was truly horrified by what I saw. I didn’t believe what I saw, I didn`t believe this happened in Lagos, whatever that journalist may have done, that is a matter of another investigation to have provoked that action’, Fashola said.
‘I make an unqualified apology on behalf of the government to the journalist and the media house he represents. I tender a very unreserved apology, this is not us’, he added
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btgf87LulmA[/youtube]
Photo Credit: Shola Oyelese
Video Credit: Channels TV
11 comments
There must be something out of nothing.
No matter the offence that the journalist must have committed,I don’t think any normal human being should have done this,if not that he is a blood sucking Govt agent. Moreover,what does the Govt still have to hide from the public as regard the DANA PLANE CRASH saga? Why the road block,to the point of not allowing JOURNALISTS ? Pls,Nigerians I believe are all interested. WHY THIS ANIMALISTIC BEHAVIOUR ?
The morgue attendants were trying to prevent the photo journalist from taking gory pictures of corpses so mistakenly pushed the journalist with force and he fell.The journalist and the media house should please accept the apology of Fashola.In conclusion,i sympathise with the families of the departed souls.
honestly peoples governor has said everything,infact are we in a country where there is no justice,some people don’t respect the law again,infact the principal actor of that devilish act must be arrested immidiately and put inside prison,before a law court, shame to those people that wounded that journalist,outside world will continue to mock at us until we respect democracy and the rule of law in nigeria.
This act is absolute animalism. Those that beat up the Photo Journalist, are not qualified to work in any public place in our country, Nigeria. They are disgrace to our country. Even animals kept in the Zoo are better than them. If they are not animals, clothed in human skins, they should have reasoned properly and use diplomacy to settle the situation, instead of animalism. Lagos state government should please, bring them to book and let them go and learn how to behave like human beings in Jail.
The journalist must hav tried acces sumtin dat waz supose to be a gov’t secret. Good 4him anyway… They always want 2knw everitin.. Sabi, sabi
No matter de what de jurnalist did for de sake of taking de pictures of de corpes,without taking a permition from de ajent,day could have ask him stop and intorigated him first,dan to beat him i thing for de bat behaviour conduct towas de jurnilist proper investigation must be taking two law,and justice must be done in nigeria towas criminalities, what ever any kinds of offence anybody commited agains de law,it is very sad in nigeria we have know humman right,pls i pray dat gov’t should come together and joint hand and bring peace in our contry nigeria befor is two late ?
some people dont have respect for journalist they think they are just ordinary people, NO they are not. journalist should be respected and treated well,because they are the mouth piece of the citizen.that idiot dat beat up the photo journalist should not go free he or she most be purnish according to law.is an assualt. please show little respect to our jounalist.
it is very shameful and despicable. Those that assaulted the journalist are animals. Tope
That particular man who did this must be locked up, if not worst than this will happen again. he must be correctd.
those worker are hiding something either they have stolen a body part or maybe ders a problem nd they are scared of letting the issue go public.