Security personnel attached to COVID-19 Taskforce setup by the Osun State Government to enforce the usage of face-mask by the residents of the state on Monday brutalised a journalist working with DAILY POST newspaper, Mr Sikiru Obarayese.
Obarayese was beaten by a combination of Policemen and Amotekun corps while covering the process at popular Old Garage, Osogbo, the state capital.
According to Obarayese who sustained serious injuries on his left elbow and right leg, the operatives were allegedly ordered to beat him by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke when he was taking reports of the harassment of some members of the public by the security agents.
The reporter in his account explained that several residents of the state were harassed by the security officers who were hitherto mandated to mete out fines to erring members of the public.
“I was taking pictures with my phone when they were harassing those who didn’t use a face mask. A woman was reporting that they had beat her and I was recording the woman.”
“The Joint Task Force led by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke approached me, asked why I am taking pictures. I told them this a public place and also informed them that I am a journalist.
“In the cause of bringing out my ID from my pocket, a policeman attached to the JTF said “you are mad, where is your ID card” and wanted to snatch my phone.”
“Four policemen attacked me and started slapping and hit me with a baton in my joints hands and leg. I fell and they were matching me. To my surprise, I heard the Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy ordering them to beat me and take me along with those they had arrested.”
“I was later released when some journalists at the venue approached them.”
Obarayese has been treated at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
In his reaction, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke denied ordering the security officers to beat the Journalist.
Adeleke said he was not there when the said Journalist was allegedly assulted, saying they were only on the field to impose the usage of facemasks as part of the measures put in place by the state government to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
He however, did not deny being the leader of the team that beat Obarayese.
