Police Assault Pinnacle Daily Editor During Demolition Coverage

Sunday Michael Ogwu, an editor with the Nigerian online newspaper Pinnacle Daily, was assaulted and had his phone confiscated by police officers from the Lugbe Police Station in Abuja. The incident occurred while Ogwu was documenting a demolition exercise during an evening stroll.

He encountered what appeared to be a joint operation involving police and a vigilante group. When he began recording, police officers confronted him, seized his phone, and ordered him to be beaten.

Ogwu stated that he was severely beaten and later released after being told to leave. He documented the incident and shared it on social media, which led to further intimidation from the officers.

Ogwu identified the police involved by seeing "Lugbe Police Station" on a pickup truck used during the operation. He asserted that he did not need permission to cover what he deemed a public function, emphasizing that if the police were conducting legitimate work, they should not fear media coverage.