The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the reported attack on Mrs. Philomina Attah, the agency’s editor and assistant chief correspondent, by a representative of the FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services.
This is stated in a letter headed “PROTEST LETTER AGAINST ASSAULT OF A NAN JOURNALIST, CAUTION YOUR OFFICERS” that was sent on October 5 to the director of the FCT VIO.
The letter was copied to the Minister of FCT and Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, and it was jointly signed by the Secretary, Funmilayo Adeyemi, and the Chairman, Collins Yakubu-Hammer.
The union conveyed sorrow over the purportedly incompetent behavior of a VIO Officer, known as Officer James, who is affiliated with the Idu outpost of the military.
“Editor/assistant chief correspondent Attah was assaulted by Officer James on September 29 when she was traveling to work for an editorial meeting.
“He stopped her in the middle of the road at the Idu Junction in Abuja and wouldn’t let her pull over, saying her papers had expired, even though she had already started the process of renewing them with the service and it was written on her car’s windshield that they would expire on September 30.
“The aforementioned officer called her expletives and gave her a smack. She received a text message on her phone a short while after the attack and humiliation informing her that the procedure of renewing her driver’s license had been completed.
“Although the union does not intend to pursue legal action against the directorate/VIO and the aforementioned officer at this time, we would greatly appreciate it if you could bring your officers into compliance,” the union stated.
Officer James of the Idu outpost of the service was required by the union to submit a written apology.
In order to discourage other too enthusiastic service personnel, it also recommended the directorate to discipline Officer James.
The NAN NUJ requested the director to investigate the officers’ sanity, professionalism, decency, and neatness when they are on the road.
The union declared, “As partners in progress, we will always ensure obedience to traffic signs, lights, and renewal of vehicle papers as at when due.”
