Caution was thrown to wind on Wednesday as Officials of Delta State Environmental Task force assaulted the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and the DAILY POST Correspondent, Matthew Omonigho who were monitoring the lockdown order by Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa over the coronavirus pandemic.
According Ikeogwu who spoke to journalists in Warris, trouble started when he approached the Environment Officials who had forced residents of Otiotio Street in Uvwie local government area out of their homes to come out for environmental sanitation against the “Stay at home” order of the governor.
He said that the Environment Officials led by Kingsley Iweka ordered his team who were over twenty in number to pounce on him and his colleague.
He said the Environment Taskforce Officials held him and his colleague hostage for about 45minutes noting that it took the efforts of the state chairman of the Environmental task force, Mr Sylvester Oromoni, who they called on phone to calm the overzealous officials down.
Ikeogwu who noted that the lives of Journalists in the state were not safe, wondered what will become of the ordinary man in the society if Government Officials could attack and assault him and his colleague even after identifying himself as a Journalist.
He described the incident as “uncalled for, unwarranted and condemnable” wondering why the taskforce would be working in contravention to the order of the Governor.
“Today is not environmental sanitation. Why should a taskforce constituted for environmental sanitation come out on a day that people were asked to stay at home to enforce environmental sanition?
“Their order has further endangered the lives of the people as it contravenes the social order of the Governor. That was why I intervened to stop them from what they were doing. But they claimed that the order was from their Chairman.
“I am disappointed in the attitude of the leader of the team even after I introduced myself to him he ordered his boys to attack me and my colleague. I wish to call on the State Governor to look into this matter because many people will fall victim of this before the end of the lockdown order.
“It was the residents of the area who called us to come and see what happening. How they were being forced to come and do environmental sanitation. However, I thank God it didn’t go beyond that.”
Some residents of the area who spoke after the altercation between the NUJ Chairman and the Taskforce condemned the acts.
One of the resident simply identified as Mohammed said,”We were forced out of our houses. If you say No, they will beat and arrest you. That’s why I came out like other people for the sanitation.”
In a telephone chat with the Chairman of the Delta State Environment Taskforce, Mr. Syvelster Oromoni he said he gave the order for the announcement for people to clear their environment. He however appealed that they should forget about whatever might have happened.
