Abayomi Adeshida, a photo-journalist with Vanguard Newspaper, was on Thursday morning, November 7, beaten up by security aides of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The newspaper reported the incident took place at the banquet hall of the presidential villa in Abuja where the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), chaired by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, organised a summit.
Adeshida was taking photographs of the vice president at the exhibition stand when Department of State Services (DSS) operatives pounced on him as Osinbajo was being presented a copy of the magazine as souvenir.
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He later told his colleagues that he was not told his offence. He said he did not do anything out of the ordinary before the security operatives started hitting him. His camera was damaged while he was dragged on the floor right in the presence of the vice-president.
Adeshida before he headed for the hospital for treatment said: “I was shocked when these DSS started beating me for no apparent reason. They tore off my Presidential Villa accreditation tag on the shirt and dragged me on the floor while hitting me and kicking me.
“I believe they would have done much worse if not for the intervention of the Vice-President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who I noticed was making hand movements for them to leave me alone. I am feeling pains all over my body and a particular severe pain on my right leg on which I don’t even know what they hit me with.”
The Herald earlier reported that Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the appointment of the Special Adviser to the government on Finance and Economy, the president has also approved the dismissal of 35 aides from the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
This was reported by Daily Nigerian News, in its publication on Wednesday. According to the report, amongst the 35 aides who are to be issued official sack letters are Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants and Technical Assistants.