By Amos Tauna
A journalist, Halima Aliyu with DITV in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, was on Saturday in Zaria allegedly assaulted while on official duty.
Report has it that the journalist had gone to the house of one Malam Shehu in Zaria to ascertain an alleged report of maltreatment of his young daughter leading to the young girl being fractured.
Speaking with AFRICA PRIME NEWS, the affected journalist, Halima Aliyu, said, “l was briefed of the maltreatment meted on young ‘Maimunatu shehu’ (now in the hospital receiving treatment), by her biological father, through an NGO, Arridah Foundation of Nigeria.
The NGO is into protecting the rights of women and children in Nigeria.
“After tracing the house, l knocked at the door, and was welcomed into the house, but the moment l told the women my mission, they grabbed me and started beating me resulting to various injuries l sustained, l forcefully free myself from their hands.
“As l am talking to you, l am not feeling fine as a result of the injuries l sustained from the beating.”
According to the founder of the NGO, Rabi Salisu, “We heard about the ugly situation of what happened with the little girl ‘Maimunatu shehu’ in Zaria and the different forms of assault she always received from her blood father, Mallam Shehu, resulting from torturing, Beating, slapping, hitting and other Severe physical punishment which she always faces at home.
“As a result of the daily beating of his daughter, he broke her hand, legs and some part of her body, leaving her with many injuries in which she is currently receiving medical treatment in a private hospital; and when contacted, he said his daughter had fallen-down on a bicycle.
“We organized our team to come and see for ourselves the kind of situation the young girl is passing through since after the death of her mother.”
Rabi explained that she was the one who informed Halima Aliyu, the Zaria based journalist, about the recent incident of a father who always beat his 3 years old daughter, that was admitted in the hospital.
Rabi said, “lts really unfortunate what happened to the journalist, because she went to the see Mallam Shehu, who is the father of the little girl at his resident, she met some women in the compound that surrounded her, despite her explanation for the reason of her coming to see the father of the little girl, they refused to listen, but started beating her, removing her veil and holding her by the neck.”
The human right activist added, “The journalist was assaulted by grabbing her by the neck, beating her, and she is currently in pains.”
She assured that the NGO would ensure justice is done to curtail the abuse of journalists, women and children in the socie
ty.
She explained that Shehu, Maimunatu’s biological father was taken to police station as a result of violating and molesting his daughter, adding that few days later, he was released, and all this is happening just 9 months after the death of the mother of the little Girl,’ she said.
The NGO called on all human right organizations, Kaduna State government, UNICEF with Network of Child Protection to support Maimunatu and ensure that justice is done in the case.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna State Police Command requested for space to get to the root of the incident.
Up to the time of filing the story, the PPRO could not give an update of the incident.
