Laolu Akande, spokesman of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has apologised to Abayomi Adeshida, a photojournalist with Vanguard, who was beaten up by security operatives at Aso Rock on Thursday morning.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the backlash took place at the banquet hall of the presidential villa in Abuja where the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), chaired by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, organised a summit.
The photographer who was beaten up said he was taking photographs of the vice president at the exhibition stand when the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives started attacking him.
“I was shocked when these DSS operatives started beating me for no reason. They tore off my Presidential Villa accreditation tag on the shirt and dragged me on the floor while hitting me and kicking me,” he said.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported the assault which was initially denied on social media.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Akande expressed regrets over the incident, disclosing that he had reached out to the journalist involved. He apologised to Adeshida after the backlash.
Akande said the scuffle has been resolved.
His statement read in part
The needless scuffle between a villa accredited photographer, Mr. Adeshida and one of our security aides earlier today have since been resolved.
The incident is regretted and I have apologized to him for any embarrassment caused.
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