Some journalists including the correspondent of TVC in Osun State, Ibraheem Alege were attacked by violent youths at the collation center  of the Osun West Senatorial Bye-Election.   

 
Alege said the journalists escaped death by a whisker as the youths threatened to lynch them, stressing that the youths smashed the glass of the vehicle that conveyed them (journalists).     

His words “We got to Baptist High School, Iwo, the collation centre at about half past seven this evening. We saw a multitude of young men and a handful of young ladies too. They stopped every vehicle that wanted to pass in front of the venue of the collation.”

“Our vehicle was stopped. They demanded to check our vehicles (without being security operatives). We had to oblige because of the multitude. I asked my cameraman to open the boot for them and they ransacked our vehicle, not only once but twice by two sets of these violent youths.”

“We made our way to the gate and another set insisted we would not enter the collation centre. Another journalist that also made an attempt to enter the gate was manhandled by the mob. They became violent and said they would not allow anybody (journalists inclusive) to enter.”

“They started shouting ole, ole, ole, (thief) and banged the vehicle. Sensing danger, I reversed and manoeuvred the vehicle. Some of these youths ran after us but we escaped.”

The State Secretary, NUJ, Osun state council, Boladale Bamigbola, condemned the attack on the newsmen, who he said were minding their legitimate business covering the election.

The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist in Osun State has condemned the attacked on the journalists by the violent youth and called on the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye to ensure that the perpetrator are brought to book. 

The Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Prince Hameed Oyegbade, described the attack on the newsmen as unfortunate and unwarranted.
He lamented that the journalists who sacrificed their time and energy to cover and report the election should not have been subjected to such treatment while performing their lawful duties.