"Support for Edo NUJ: CSO Demands Apology from Okungbowa Following Journalist Assault"

The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has urged Kelly Okungbowa, the suspended coordinator of the State Public Safety Response Team, PSRT, to formally apologize to Mrs Juliet Enabulele and the Edo Broadcasting Service.

DAILY POST reports that Juliet Enabulele, a staff of the Edo State Broadcasting Service, was on Wednesday assaulted alongside her cameraman by the former aide of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The duo were assaulted during an mpowerment program for Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, at the Government House.

Reacting to the incident, the members of Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human urged Kelly Okungbowa, aka Ebo Stone, to formally apologize to Enabulele and the Edo Broadcasting Service.

In a statement signed by Marxist Kola Edokpayi, Coordinator General and Comrade Aghatise Raphael, Secretary-General, the coalition also called for a transparent and impartial investigation into “this reprehensible assault”.

“We vehemently repudiates the egregious and notorious act of physical assault perpetrated by one Mr. Kelly Okungbowa, widely known as Ebo Stone, against Mrs. Juliet Enabulele, a journalist affiliated with the Office of the First Lady at the Edo Broadcasting Service,EBS.

“This deplorable act constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to human dignity, press freedom, and the rule of law.

“It is profoundly alarming that an individual occupying a prominent stakeholder position within Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration could engage in such brazen, reprehensible conduct, utterly incompatible with civic responsibility.

“More disconcerting is the ostensible celebration of “digital slaps” by certain top government officials, thereby normalizing aggression, valorizing impunity, and emboldening notorious actors to perpetrate violence with reckless abandon. How can a sane person celebrate a slapper?

“At this time, when Edo State is contending with a pervasive high level of insecurity, it is unconscionable that human energy is squandered on assaulting unarmed women rather than safeguarding citizens from existential threats.

“We therefore demand that the government redirect elements like Mr. Okungbowa to substantive engagement in the frontline defense against criminality, reinforcing public safety rather than fomenting fear.

“Moreover, we urge Governor Monday Okpebholo to unequivocally distance himself from this reckless act of impunity which demeans the office of the First Lady and undermines the ethical standards of governance. Leadership necessitates accountability, moral rectitude, and the unwavering defense of human rights,” the group said.

The coalition also demanded for
urgency enhanced protective mechanisms for journalists across Edo State while the government should publicly denounce the pernicious “digital slap” culture validated by prominent political actors in Edo State.

The group added that as a body, it stood resolutely in solidarity with Mrs Juliet Enabulele and all advocates of truth, justice, and human dignity.

It noted that it would not condone notorious acts that subvert the principles of equity, decency, and accountability, adding that an injury to one is an injury to all.

The group, however, called on all lovers of freedom and justice to join the coalition in a peaceful protest against the assault on the journalist.

DAILY POST recalls that the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, had on Wednessday condemned the attack on its member.

A statement signed by Comrade Festus Alenkhe and Comrade Andy Egbon, Chairman and Secretary of the Council respectively said the female journalist was attack and manhandled on Wednessday, December 3, 2025 at a public function in Benin City.

“The union considered the assault and manhandling of the journalist as an act of blatant attack on press freedom, the safety of journalists, and the right of media professionals to carry out their lawful duties without fear, intimidation, or violence”, the union added.

The statement further warned that attacks on journalists in the line of duty will no longer be tolerated.

It, however urged members of the public, especially public figures, to exercise restraint and show respect for the constitutional role of the media in strengthening democracy and promoting accountability.

The leadership of the union also called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to immediately arrest Kelly Okungbowa ,investigate him and bring him to justice.