**Naija Journalist Attacked at Kosofe LGA Secretariat - JODER Speaks Out** In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the journalism community, a reporter with Metropolitan Television (MITV) was allegedly assaulted at the Kosofe Local Government Council Secretariat in Lagos. Habeeb Adejobi, the victim, was merely doing his job, covering a screening exercise for newly appointed supervisors and special advisers, when he was attacked by suspected loyalists of the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area, Mr. Moyo Ogunlewe. The Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), a rights advocacy group, has condemned the alleged attack, describing it as a grave breach of press freedom. According to Adewale Adeoye, the Executive Director of JODER, the incident is not only unacceptable but also embarrassing for a democratic society. He noted that the attack brings back memories of the repression and brutality journalists faced during Nigeria's military rule era. "This is quite disheartening. It should not happen in a democracy," Adeoye said. "The violation of the rights of a journalist in the course of his official duty is condemnable in the strongest terms." JODER is calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the individual accused of leading the attack, described as the driver to the council chairman, is brought to justice. The group is also urging the Lagos State House of Assembly to probe the incident, describing the alleged conduct of the chairman's driver as uncivilised and unacceptable. In Nigeria, where press freedom is often under attack, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the need for journalists to be protected from harassment and intimidation. JODER's stand on this issue is a testament to the importance of a free and independent press in our democracy. As Adeoye aptly put it, "We think it is abnormal for a local government chairman to keep a thug as his driver." The question on many minds is: what kind of message does this send to the public?