Nigeria: Journalist attacked by park manager official in front of her kids

October 4, 2020, Ibadan, Nigeria – Zainab Olayiwola, journalist at a private radio station named Jamz FM, and her kids were attacked by a park manager official while boarding a tricycle.

The alleged attack on the journalist Zainab Olayiwola was made by Akeem Animashaun - the official of the Park Management System. Zainab was said to have boarded Park Management System’s tricycle at the time of the attack. The assaulter confirmed that he ordered Zainab and her kids to alight from the vehicle in the middle of the road. The official then wanted to pick some other passengers to another destination. In the blink of an eye, he already started to throw the kids’ bags out and drag them out of the tricycle. 

This inappropriate and unjust demeanour has not stopped there either, as he slapped the journalist in the face after she refused to take his order. Zainab also testified the horrible attack with “I protested and before I knew it, he slapped me in the face. My children and I started crying.” 

 The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns this horrible attack on Zainab and her children. We urge the Park Management System to immediately provide a safe environment for the women journalists on board. Such violent acts against any human being cannot be tolerated and should be addressed with swift action from authorities.