Three media offices were set ablaze on Wednesday by suspects who allegedly took advantage of a protest seeking to end police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, according to media reports.
The Lagos Television, a state-run media organization, Television Continental (TVC), a popular 24-hour news channel, and The Nation, a widely circulated daily newspaper, in separate areas of Lagos, were torched by the hoodlums who went on the rampage across the state, local broadcaster Channels Television reported.
Both the TVC and The Nation newspaper are privately owned.
The attacks on media offices were part of the uprising which followed the shooting of peaceful protesters allegedly by men in military uniforms on Tuesday night.
The government on Wednesday confirmed that one was killed and 27 others injured in that shooting incident. Witnesses said men in military uniforms shot at demonstrators who defied a curfew order by the Lagos government.
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the massive shooting was carried out by “forces beyond our direct control” after he visited hospitals to see the victims.
Reports said the TVC was airing a daily magazine program when it suddenly went off-air as the hoodlums had gained entry into the premises, razing cars and other property of the staff, guests, and the television station.
The television station has since gone off-air as a result of the attack. No casualty was reported.
Violence has been reported in some other cities across the country as suspected hoodlums reportedly took control of the peaceful protests by citizens calling for extensive reform of the police.
Nigerian police chief Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday directed the deployment of riot policemen to all parts of the country, to safeguard lives and property, as well as critical infrastructure.
