A freelance journalist in Jigawa state, Abubakar Tahir had escaped being killed by mob for attempting to make a report on the devastation caused by flood in Ganuwar Kuka community in Jigawa state.
The journalist who was contacted by several media outfits to get the report from the affected community was attacked while interviewing a victim at the sight during the week.
Describing his plight to Dailynews24, Tahir said he was tortured, assaulted and molested by the youth as they beat him mercilessly, forcing his head into water removing it and hitting him on the face.
“I was at Ganuwar Kuka, community located close to Hadejia in Jigawa state to report the level of devastation caused by flood on Wednesday morning.
“I was contacted by several media outfits to help get the report for them from various perspectives.
“On arrival I met a group of young men that looked enlightened and I approached them. One of them offered to speak to me and I placed my camera on him at chosen locations. He was so impressed that he invited two other persons to be interviewed as well.
“Just as he left the place, within a few minutes I was attacked by mob. They were beating and hitting me with sticks, my mobile phones fell to the ground and fell on the ground too.
“As I was making effort to stand up they forced my head into water, removed it, hit me and forced it back into the water again. My right eye is affected as a result of the beating. I was badly bruised as a result.
“I was shouting that I am a journalist and showing them my identity card but all to no avail. They have started wielding swords and cutlasses when some people arrived the scene and stopped them.
“They took me to the village head Bulama Hamza where I was given cover. I lost my money, phones and other personal property to the attack” he stated.
He further explained that he had reported to the police and even the Police Public Relations Officer of the state is aware of the situation.
Meanwhile, Tahir is recovering from the bruises he received as a result of the attack which he said he was only a victim, as the attacker were angrily expressing government’s neglect to their plight.
