By Our Reporter
The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has called on Kelly Okungbowa, the suspended Coordinator of the State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), to tender a formal apology to Mrs. Juliet Enabulele and the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) following an alleged assault.
DAILY POST earlier reported that Mrs. Enabulele, a staff member of EBS, and her cameraman were assaulted on Wednesday during an empowerment programme for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) at the Edo State Government House. Okungbowa, a former aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, was identified as the perpetrator.
In a statement jointly signed by Marxist Kola Edokpayi, Coordinator General of the coalition, and Comrade Aghatise Raphael, Secretary-General, the group strongly condemned the act and demanded an impartial investigation into what it described as a “reprehensible assault.”
The coalition denounced the incident as a violation of human dignity, press freedom, and the rule of law.
According to the statement, it is troubling that someone holding a significant position in the current administration could engage in such “brazen and reprehensible conduct.” The group also criticized the apparent glorification of so-called “digital slaps” by some government officials, warning that such behavior encourages impunity and violence.
The coalition further questioned why individuals tasked with promoting public safety would channel energy into assaulting unarmed citizens amid growing insecurity in the state. It urged the government to assign individuals like Okungbowa to security-related responsibilities rather than activities that instill fear.
Additionally, the coalition called on Governor Okpebholo to publicly disassociate himself from the incident, stating that leadership requires accountability and moral integrity. It demanded stronger protections for journalists across the state and a clear denunciation of the culture of aggression being propagated by political actors.
Reaffirming its support for Mrs. Enabulele, the group said it would continue to uphold the principles of justice, dignity, and accountability, stressing that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” It also urged advocates of freedom and justice to join a peaceful protest planned in response to the attack.
The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had earlier condemned the assault in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, and Secretary, Comrade Andy Egbon. The union described the incident, which occurred on December 3 in Benin City, as a direct attack on press freedom and the safety of journalists.
The NUJ warned that such attacks would no longer be tolerated and urged public figures to respect the constitutional role of the media. It further called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to arrest and investigate Okungbowa and ensure he is brought to justice.
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