Thugs invade Zamfara NUJ Secretariat, beat Chairman to stupor

Armed thugs on Thursday invaded the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State Secretariat, press center Gusau.

The suspected armed political thugs beat up the council chairman, Ibrahim Musa Maizare to stupor.

The thugs arrived the press centre with sticks, threatening to deal with journalists in the state as well

The incident began when Council Chairman Maizare ordered some youths working on a NUJ shop inside the council’s grounds to stop their work, stating that the NUJ would not use the location as a campaign office for any political party.

The hoodlums, however, defied the NUJ Chairman’s order and continued working on the shop, adding that the location must be used as a Political Campaign office for their political party for as long as the politician interested in the shop is alive.

Speaking to reporters, NUJ Secretary Ibrahim Gada claimed that the building was originally rented as a restaurant, but after the tenant moved out, the restaurant was transformed into a campaign office by the thugs in 2020, and the same building was completely burned down by rival thugs in 2021.

The Zamfara NUJ asked security agencies to protect the lives and property of journalists in the state, adding that the lives of journalists in Zamfara is seriously in danger

“If armed thugs can threaten to kill Journalists what do you expect? The safety of all journalists must be guaranteed by security agencies and the Government” Gada Said

“We are calling on relevant authorities to wade into the matter”

“How on earth can Political thugs dictate the way NUJ will use it’s property and who to give out to as tenant? ” Gada added.

Police in Zamfara is yet to make any arrest on the incident.