By Alhaji Yusuf, Damaturu
In a brazen pre-dawn attack on Friday, unidentified gunmen assaulted the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Damaturu, leaving one police officer seriously injured and raising concerns about the safety of media professionals in Nigeria’s northeast region.
The attack occurred approximately at 2:00 am on September 19, 2025, when armed assailants targeted the NUJ Secretariat building.
The gunmen shot the police officer stationed to guard the premises,striking him in the leg.
According to initial reports,the injured officer was promptly rushed to the emergency unit of the Police Hospital in Damaturu, where he is currently receiving treatment .
Rajab Ismail Mohammed, Chairman of the NUJ Yobe Council, characterized the incident as both “unfortunate and scary” for journalists operating in the state.
He emphasized the psychological impact on media professionals who already work in challenging environments .
“This attack represents not just an assault on a security guard but an intimidation tactic against the press corps in Yobe State.
“We call on security agencies to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into this matter and ensure those responsible are brought to justice”, Mohammed stated.