Polls violence: Enugu Gov. summons council chairmen, as NUJ condemns attack on journalists

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, has condemned the attack by gunmen on some journalists monitoring the Enugu state local government election held on Wednesday.

The Chairman, Comrade Sam Udekwe who stated this in a statement made available to Journalists in Enugu, described the unprovoked attack as morally reprehensible and an incident that must be condemned by every Nigerian.

A team of four reporters from Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) and one from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ran into gunmen attacking a polling unit at Obeagu, Enugu South Local Government Area.

The gunmen, it was gathered stormed the area with Sienna and Toyota Highlander vehicles and shot sporadically. They were also wearing masks.

The hoodlums burnt vehicles, and destroyed electoral materials,  thereby making voters, election officials, observers and journalists to scamper for safety.

Some persons were reported dead during the attacks.

One of the Journalists, Chigozie Alex-Nwafor and the bus driver, Ebuka Ogbozor sustained machete cuts from the hoodlums.

 The NUJ chairman said, “I find it inexplicable that journalists have suddenly become endangered species even while discharging their constitutional duties.

“This type of act against innocent citizens must not be allowed to take roots in the society.”

Udekwe appealed to security agencies in the state to be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and security.

He also called on the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission and the Media organisations whose reporters were injured to pay commensurate compensations to all the victims.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has called for an emergency security meeting, Thursday.

Critical stakeholders of Nkanu West, Nkanu East, Enugu South, Enugu North and Enugu East local government areas were all invited to the meeting.

This contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo.

Those invited for the security meeting scheduled to hold at the Government House, Enugu at 2.30pm included the council Chairmen of the above mentioned local government areas.

It was learnt that the emergency security meeting could be as a result of the violence that erupted in some parts of the state during the LG election on Wednesday.