The International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, has strongly condemned the police brutality on Olukayode Jaiyeola a Photojournalist with the Punch Newspaper, on October 1, 2020, while covering a peaceful protest to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary at the Maryland area of Lagos State.

IPC also insisted that the policeman “should be prosecuted so that the assaulted journalist could have justice.”

A report by The Punch Newspaper stated that, “The incident happened around 12:00 noon when a policeman, Innocent Adadu, hit Jaiyeola’s head with a baton, which immediately made him collapse, with blood gushing out of his injured skull.”

According to a statement signed by it’s Program Officer/Safety Desk Officer, Melody Lawal, the IPC condemned what it described as “unwarranted brutalization of the journalist in the course of his legitimate duty of covering a peaceful protest by a group of Nigerians.

“Although we commend the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu for his prompt intervention over the matter, we hereby demand that the culprit should be prosecuted so that the assaulted journalist could have justice.

“IPC again calls on police officers and other security operatives to create a safe environment for journalists and other media professionals to carry out their duties unhindered” the IPC said.

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