The Kaduna State Police Command has apologized to Ibraheema Yakubu, the journalist that was assaulted by police officers during a clash between Shiites and members of a Kaduna community.
Yakubu, who was arrested while covering a peaceful procession by the Shiites in Kaduna penultimate Friday, said he was beaten and slapped by police officers, before he was thrown into detention.
The journalist, who reports for the Hausa service of the German Deutsche Welle, DW radio, was arrested as he covered a scene in which locals attacked the Shiites and tried to force them to disperse.
At least two people were injured in the attack, witnesses said, while authorities said 10 people were arrested.
Yakubu was released on bail to officials of the Kaduna council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at about 7:30 p.m. six hours after his arrest by the police.
He returned to the police station on Wednesday as directed.
On Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh, made a verbal apology on behalf of the command to Yakubu.
The police commissioner said his command would also consider replacing the journalist’s damaged equipment.
Yakubu met the police commissioner in company of other journalists.
“They have also confirmed that I am not a Shiite member as they alleged. I am just a journalist carrying out my constitutional responsibility,” he said.
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