THE Oyo State and Ogun State chapters of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria have issued statements condemning the attacks on their members in Ibadan yesterday.
Fans of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan physically attacked three journalists after their 1-1 draw with Remo Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in a Nigeria Professional Football League encounter yesterday.
Eye witnesses said the violent thugs chased after the three journalists (Tobi Adepoju, Ayo Animashaun and Atinuke Esan), one of them a woman, and rained blows on them before the intervention of the police.
There is a short video in circulation of Adepoju (a Lagos-based independent sports writer and broadcaster) being chased from inside the stadium complex by the thugs, who were hitting him as he ran, before he was rescued by the police.
The police are seen shooting in the air several times to disperse the bloodthirsty mob as Adepoju was ushered into a vehicle.
“Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Oyo State Chapter has condemned the brutal attack on three sports journalists at the Lekan Salami stadium shortly after the 3SC/Remo Stars game on Wednesday,” the Oyo SWAN said in a press release afterwards.
“The three assaulted journalists were Mr Tobi Samuel Adepoju, Mr Ayo Animasaun and Miss Atinuke Esan.”
Oyo SWAN Secretary, Adewale Tijani, described the unwarranted attack on harmless journalists, who were carrying out their duties, as “not only uncivilized but also barbaric”.
Chairman of Oyo SWAN Niyi Alebiosu called the attack “unjustifiable and portending bad omen for sports in Nigeria”.
Alebiosu called on the management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club and State Football Association to “fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act and bring them to justice”.
On their part, Lagos SWAN not only condemned the attack, it also demanded an immediate apology from 3SC for the club’s inability to control their fans.
“The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos Chapter has demanded an unreserved apology from the management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) following the brutal attack on her members at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Wednesday,” it said in a statement signed by Bunmi Ogunyale, who is the Secretary.
“Our independent findings revealed that
three journalists, Mr Tobi Samuel Adepoju, Mr Ayo Animasaun and Miss Atinuke Esan were assaulted after the 3SC and Remo Stars’ NPFL game.”
Lagos SWAN Chairman Debo Oshundun demanded that, within 48 hours, 3SC replace items in possession of the journalists that were damaged in the course of the violent actions.
Oshundun frowned upon the act of subjecting journalists to such traumatizing situations while carrying out their professional duties.
The League Management Company had in February made 3SC and Remo Stars play behind closed doors after violence broke out in the aftermath of their reverse fixture in Ikenne, Ogun State.
This time, the NPFL organising body is expected to apply stiffer sanctions on the Ibadan club.
