Security operatives harassed Channels Television’s crew covering a protest at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) on Tuesday morning.
The crew members were manhandled and their car was vandalised by security operatives in the school. The media platform said that this was after the security men had detained them for over an hour.
Professors at UniAbuja were protesting the selection process for the university’s vice-chancellor, and the TV crew was present to cover the demonstration.
READ ALSO: In Nigeria, at Least 56 Journalists Attacked and Harassed as Protests Roil Region
UniAbuja Professors Protest VC Selection ProcessChannels TV crew covering the protest are manhandled and the crew car vandalised by security operatives in the school, after detaining then for over an hour.#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/gZXQHB8j4q— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 24, 2024
As seen in one of the video clips posted on Channels TV’s X page, one of the journalists was heard asking, “You will not. You are vandalising my car! You are vandalising my car! Right? I am a journalist, so you are vandalising my car. Keep vandalising it. I don’t even have a phone. I don’t have my camera.”
READ ALSO: Lagos Taskforce Officials Manhandle Journalist Pelu Awofeso for Filming Harassment of Motorist
PROTEST BACKGROUND
FIJ found that some of the university’s academic staff had been concerned about the process of appointing a new vice chancellor, following the exit of Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah in July.
It was reported that the university authorities, including the governing council, planned to install Professor Aisha Maikudi, the Acting VC, as the substantive VC, but the concerned protesters felt Maikudi was ineligible under the advertised criteria.
These concerned academic staff members pointed to perceived irregularities in the selection process. They petitioned Morufu Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, on this in November.
The petition stated that the governing council deliberately breached rules and regulations governing the affairs of the institution.
The post Security Operatives Harass, Manhandle Channels TV Crew at UniAbuja Protest appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.