Adeniyi Adesina, editor of the newspaper, in a statement on Wednesday, said the attackers arrived at the premises in a coordinated fashion and set fire to the place, leaving workers trapped inside.
The management of The Nation Newspaper has said that the
destruction of its headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday was an unwarranted attack
on free press in the country.
Adeniyi Adesina, editor of the newspaper, in a statement on Wednesday, said the attackers arrived at the premises in a coordinated fashion and set fire to the place, leaving workers trapped inside.
He said, “Armed men on motorcycles invaded the headquarters
of The Nation on Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos, on Wednesday afternoon. In a
commando-like manner, they kicked their way into the premises after scaring
away security men on duty, brandishing their sophisticated guns.
“They poured petrol on the frontage of the building and set
fire to it. Some of the vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze,
others vandalised. Many boys came thereafter and swooped on the office, looting
everything they could lay their hands on.
“These include desktop computers, laptops, air conditioners
and other office equipment. At the time of the attack, Managing Director and
Editor-in-Chief, Mr Victor Ifijeh, was among those trapped within the office
while the fire raged on.
“They were evacuated when men of Operation Mesa security
outfit arrived. Their arrival ended the free rein of the invaders. It was
obviously a targeted attack on the free press. The Nation had been listed on
Twitter and other social media platforms by sympathisers of the ongoing
destructive activities as a target of attack.”
Apart from The Nation Newspapers, angry Nigerians also attacked and burnt Television Continental, another media establishment believed to be owned by a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who many people suspect to have had a hand in the deployment of soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate area on Tuesday where peaceful protesters were killed in large numbers.
0 Comments