Akure – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone-B, has condemned the attack on a crew of the African Independent Television (AIT) in Ikere Ekiti on Saturday

This was contained in a statement issued in Akure on Monday by the Vice-President of the zone, Mr Dele Atunbi.

The statement described the attack on the media outfit that went to cover the Labour Party campaign rally in Ikere as disheartening.

“The barbaric event is a dangerous dimension to the political developments in Ekiti State.

“The NUJ is of the opinion that the political class in Ekiti State seems not to have learnt anything from the country’s political history, especially “ Operation Wetie’’ in the defunct Western Region,'” it said.

It also condemned the damage done to the station’s Outside Broadcast Van as well as its equipment

“The union questions the rationale behind the attack on an innocent media outfit that was carrying out its constitutional duties.

“We also want to caution the political gladiators in Ekiti State to refrain from thuggery and other criminal actions that could turn the state to a theatre of the absurd.

“Therefore, we are calling on the police authority to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous act to serve as deterrent to others with evil intention,” the statement said.

It appealed to security agencies in the state to provide tight security to protect lives and property.

The union also stressed the need for the provision of security personnel in all media outfits in the state to avert further attacks on journalists.

– NAN