An overzealous member of the State Security Service (SSS) attached to the Ebonyi State governor has injured an AIT cameraman and damaged video equipment worth over N1 million.
The incident happened during the wedding of Bisoye Obasanjo and his wife, Chigozie Nwenyi at Okpuitumo, Ndufu Ikwo Development Centre of Ikwo LGA.
Mr. Chineye Sunday, the cameraman narrated his ordeal. He said, “The thing is that similar incident has happened before during a function and it was a National Assembly member, Hon. Tobias Okwuru that had to intervene in the matter.
“After that incident, the next one was the one that happened at Ikwo during Chief Obasanjo’s son’s traditional marriage yesterday (Saturday).
“Immediately I entered where dignitaries were and established my shots the guy (SSS operative) who was at my back pushed me. When that happened, I now started staggering with myself and my equipment.
“I went to the guy and asked him, why he did what he did; the next thing was for him to punch me close to my eyes. It was a terrible incident that happened before dignitaries and even before the ADC to the Governor and if it was possible the ADC would have beaten up the guy but he restrained himself.
“My camera that was damaged is worth over N1 million and I cannot use it again to cover any function for government or anybody else until it is repaired or a new one purchased for me”, he complained.
Speaking on the development, a cross section of journalists in the state expressed their displeasure and threatened to boycott the government unless the culprit was brought to book.
“We are shocked, embarrassed and humiliated by this development. This SSS guys are fond of obstructing us from doing our job both in the Government House and at the Stadium; and the most annoying aspect of it is that they know us very well. We are all in the Government House. We are not strangers to them.
“We wonder who gave them the audacity to attack us. It is only in Ebonyi State we feel threatened to do our job. These guys need training and retraining; they shouldn’t vent their angers on us if their condition of service is not acceptable to them. They should allow us to do our job while they do theirs. Journalists world over are harmless persons”.