Group meets KAI, police over assault on PUNCHman
| credits: www.thesourceng.com
Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders on Tuesday met with officials of Kick Against Indiscipline and the Lagos State Police Command over the assault on a PUNCH photojournalist, Mr. Goke Famadewa.
Famadewa was attacked two weeks ago by officers of KAI and the police attached to the Taskforce on Environmental Offences Unit for taking pictures of illegal structures being demolished at Sandgrouse, Igbosere, Lagos Island.
Executive Director of Cacol, Mr. Debo Adediran, expressed displeasure over the incident.
He said, “We wrote a petition to the governor over the incident. Based on this petition, we were advised to meet with KAI and the police authorities over the issue.
“The work of security agencies is to secure lives and property. When this duty is not assured, the society is in jeopardy. Those who beat up Famadewa did not even bother to find out what the photograph was to be used for and what slant it was to take, they just pounced on him.”
Deputy Director, Administration, KAI office, Alausa, Mr. Onipede Ofi, who received the delegation from CACol, said, “I was asked to meet with you so you will know that we are taking this case seriously.
“Although some of the men who attacked Famadewa were with KAI on that day, they are actually with the task force. I will need time to ascertain their identities from the task force authorities and I assure you that they would be decisively dealt with if found wanting.”
The PUNCH gathered that the petition over Famadewa’s assault was being handled by the X-Squad at the Lagos Police Command, Ikeja.
During his meeting with CACol, the Officer- In-charge of X-Squad, CSP Kola Okunola, assured the delegation that the police command was taking the matter seriously.
Okunola said, “From what Famadewa has said, the persons who assaulted him are most likely from the Rapid Response Squad. A signal would be sent to them to invite those names that Famadewa has mentioned. This case would be investigated thoroughly.”