A female reporter from the government-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), Juliet Enabulele-Asein, and her cameraman, Bright Osifo, were assaulted by an aide to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, identified as Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone).

The incident occurred at Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, during an empowerment program for 250 physically challenged persons. It reportedly started when some individuals, not listed as beneficiaries, tried to enter the hall and were being escorted through a side door.

Okungbowa allegedly attacked the cameraman, claiming he was recording the scene. When Enabulele-Asein intervened to clarify that the cameraman worked for the state-owned station, Okungbowa physically assaulted her, striking her shoulder in an attempted slap.

“I told him the cameraman was not recording and even asked if he noticed he was working for a state-owned station, but he ignored me,” Enabulele-Asein told Vanguard.

The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), through its Chairman Festus Alenkhe and Secretary Andy Egbon, condemned the attack, calling it an assault on press freedom and the safety of journalists. They urged the Nigeria Police and security agencies to arrest and prosecute Okungbowa immediately.

The NUJ stated:
“Attacks on journalists in the line of duty will no longer be tolerated. Public figures must exercise restraint and respect the constitutional role of the media in promoting accountability and democracy.”

Okungbowa, previously suspended in March 2025 as head of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) after a controversial incident that led to the death of a two-year-old girl, was recently appointed coordinator of The City Boy Movement, a youth-based group supporting President Bola Tinubu.