Armed men who arrived on motorcycles raided the headquarters of The Nation newspaper, based in Lagos, on Wednesday afternoon, the news organisation has said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the paper’s editor, Adeniyi Adesina, said the invaders forced their way into the premises after intimidating the security guards and brandishing sophisticated guns.
“They poured petrol on the frontage of the building and set fire to it. Some of the vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze, others vandalised,” he recounted.
“Many boys came thereafter and swooped on the office, looting everything they could lay their hands on. These include desktop computers, laptops, air conditioners and other office equipment.”
Adesina added that, during the attack and while the structure was caught in flames, people were trapped inside, including the organisation’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Victor Ifijeh.
“They were evacuated when men of Operation Mesa security outfit arrived. Their arrival ended the free rein of the invaders,” he said.
“It was obviously a targeted attack on the free press. The Nation had been listed on Twitter and other social media platforms by sympathisers of the ongoing destructive activities, as a target of attack.
“The Nation has robustly reported the protests fairly, giving voice to the agitation of youths for a better Nigeria. The Management is at a loss as to why the company should be a target of such unwarranted attack.”
Some other media organisations based in Lagos were also attacked by mobs on Wednesday, including Television Continental and Max FM, which share the same compound. No life was reported lost in the incidents.
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