Aviation
Dana crash: Journalist battered for allegedly taking photographs of corpses
A Photo Journalist with Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Benedict Uwalaka was yesterday battered by some of the Mortuary attendant of the Tos Funeral Services Limited for attempting to take photographs of the corpses of the ill-fated Dana plane crash at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LASUTH.
By Oyise Oghene
A Photo Journalist with Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Benedict Uwalaka was yesterday battered by some of the Mortuary attendant of the Tos Funeral Services Limited for attempting to take photographs of the corpses of the ill-fated Dana plane crash at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LASUTH.
Vanguard was at LASUTH gathered that the journalist, Mr. Uwalaka was bleeding profusely after been smatched with an iron rod on his head when the mortuary attendants and one of the uniform men, security personnel known as Neighbourhood kept on beating him.
Vanguard learnt that another journalist with ThisDay Newspaper, Mr. Kola Olasupo who witnessed the incident said that the battered journalist, Mr. Benedict did not even take any photograph at all but he was surprised when the mortuary attendants bounds on him and started beating him up.
According to him,”When I got to this place, I met some of my colleagues so we were all taking photographs, I even went as far as going behind the gate to take some photographs so as we were waiting now thinking that they were going to bring out the corps maybe in batches or whatever, so as were waiting, we waited for almost two or three hours, we couldn’t see anything so that was how I said that something might be going wrong, let me just move round so as I went round, I saw some of the camera men from the electronic media everybody positioned, the were standing over there, so I went at the back of the generator there, I saw them preparing ambulance about to take one of the corps out so I went at the back of that generator to take a shot.
So when I got there, I was about taking that photograph, one of them came to me and said that I should take any photograph there that if I take any photograph that he will seize my photograph so I know asked him why or how can you seize my camera for what, he now said that it is not allowed that I should take any photograph then I said ok if that be the case that was what you should have told me don’t take photograph but for you to tell me that you will seize my camera I cannot agree with you then I moved out of that place, the guy that was injured, the one with Leadership Newspaper, I saw him we were together so he saw me coming out, I said Bendict don’t take any photograph these people said that we should not take any photograph and the guy obliged and we turned back and as the guy was turning back, he turned back as he was following me so somebody now came from behind him and slap him and started beating him.
Iit was later one Bayo, the woman the head of this mortuary I don’t know her name so that woman went in and called Bayo and Bayo came out with a big iron rod and snatch it on the head of Benedict so as we were trying to seperate them, they were fighting, they seized my camera, they even damage my camera but I was able to hold that guy, I collected my camera so a uniform man, Neighbourhood, it was that guy that even caused the problem, Ibrahim by name so the guy held on to Bendict he couldn’t allow him to move so that was where they were all beating Benedict so Bayo went inside then somebody else by name Idowu, he is one of the ambulance driver so the guy came and said why should you be taking photograph and all that in fact at that time you need to see how they disorganised face with blood everything so the guy now said how can you be taking photograph that was how they started argument again, Idowu again now run round and he went and look for a bottle and he broke it on Benedict’s head and after that he was looking round again so he was able to carry one big block, he was about heating it on Benedict’s head that was how we all started fighting back in fact we turned this place to another thing so if not for the intervention of some of our colleagues by now Benedict would have been dead”
Mr. Olasupo however stressed that he wonders why journalists in Nigeria were been treated with disdain even up to the point that they were been beaten up that people or security personnels adding that such was not the case in the western world.
He said”I don’t know what is even battered because all I can say is that our orientation in this country is very low, we do watch television everyday all these foreign reports and films, if there is serious crisis if you see the was security men will just move in together with the journalists everybody will be doing their job but it os a different thing entirely so in fact I don’t know what to say but what we are hearing is that because we put a call through to the commissioner I know don’t know, I cannot confirm it and what they were saying was that we should leave this place that after all we were not allowed to cover this event I don’t know how far but this is what they said that the commissioner said”
At as the time of filling this report, the journalist that was battered was ordered by the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Mr. David Adewale Okewale to be admitted by the hospital so that he could be taken proper medical care of.
In a bold step to strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Governor Umo Eno announced the addition of two new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to the fleet of the state-owned airline, Ibom Air, on Friday.
The two aircraft, registered as 5N-CED and 5N-CEE, mark a milestone in the state’s commitment to strategic investment, with the governor stressing that the acquisitions were fully funded by state resources without loans from financial institutions.
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At a welcoming ceremony attended by local officials and residents, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s mission to drive revenue-generating ventures for Akwa Ibom rather than relying on debt.
He called the move a step toward breaking the cycle of government investments that only serve to pay off loans, vowing that the state’s funds would go towards projects that bring returns to the people.
The governor challenged Ibom Air to turn a profit by 2025, stating that the airline’s management should ensure routes in and out of Uyo remain dependable to prioritize the needs of Akwa Ibom travelers.
“As long as I remain governor, we will continue to use state funds for the benefit of all, not for private gain,” he said, noting that his administration aims to ensure that public investments deliver real value to the state.
Governor Eno also provided updates on several ambitious state projects, including an 18-story commercial complex underway in Lagos and an upcoming 4-star hotel in Abuja, both designed to generate revenue for Akwa Ibom.
Plans for an international market in Ikot Ekpene and the phased opening of a new terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport were also announced, with the airport terminal set for partial operation by December and full activation in early 2025.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended Eno’s financial management, highlighting that the administration has avoided seeking loans over the past 18 months despite launching significant development projects.
Ibom Air’s Chairman, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, expressed appreciation for the state’s investment in the airline, which has seen its fleet grow to nine aircraft.
Jacob credited the governor’s support with enabling Ibom Air to boost flight capacity, meeting demand on popular routes such as Uyo-Lagos-Abuja.
Captain Mfon Udom, CEO of Ibom Air, stated that the expanded fleet will improve efficiency and allow the airline to scale up its operations in time for the Christmas travel season.
Udom also noted that the airline anticipates the delivery of nine additional Airbus planes, which will further strengthen Ibom Air’s market presence.
Traditional leaders, including HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon III of Okobo Local Government Area, lauded the governor’s leadership, pledging continued support from the traditional institutions.
Anie Essienette, Group Manager for Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, noted that demand for the airline’s services has surged nationwide, with the new CRJ900 aircraft helping meet this increasing need while the airline awaits further fleet expansion.
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo is of the view that there’s no cause for alarm over the approval of a private airstrip for a religious organisation, which attracted the attention of the House of Representatives.
He took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday morning to shed light on the subject, and explained that it could be a great source of revenue for Federal Government.
Keyamo asserted that the issue was raised by an honourable member at plenary, out of ignorance, but was “unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into.”
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Keyamo expressed confidence that by the time his Ministry was done enlightening them, “they will be satisfied”.
He added that “the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.”
Keyamo wrote, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip.
“I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.
“By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.
“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations.
“It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.
“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land.
“And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go. So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation.
“I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion.
“I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA.”
The NNPC Ltd has clarified that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
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“The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing.
“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.
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