Security operatives of the Department for State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday, harrassed and barred journalists from covering the visit of former President Atiku Abubakar, at the Asaba airport and government house.
Atiku, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2019 Presidential aspirant is visiting the state to consult Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP delegates for his ambition, ahead of the party primaries.
Journalists who were invited to cover the former Vice President’s arrival at the airport were barred from entering the Arrival Lounge as one female operative of the NSCDC threatened to hit journalists with her gun butt.
The female NSCDC operative, who had removed her name tag to shield her identity, averred in brute arrogance that “I have orders frim the CSO to shoot and if you dont leave this place now, I will break you leg. I am under instruction not allow Journalists into the Airport to cover the arrival of Atiku” she fumed.
Another officer of the DSS asserted that “journalists should go to Government House to wait; they gave us directive to bar journalists so that they cannot give a counter directive without letting us know.
“If you guys don’t respect yourselves I will order my men to force you out”, as he immediately ordered about five mobile policemen, three Civil Defence men and four DSS officials to push journalists out of the entrance of the Arrival Lounge.
On arriving the Government House main entrance, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) further barred journalists from entering the complex, with the excuse that ” my job will be on the line if he allows journalists in”, adding you can report that due to the crowd, journalists could not gain access to cover the visit”.