A female photojournalist has accused members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) of sexual harassment, assault, and extortion during a protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, staged to demand the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
The allegations were made in an emotional audio testimony shared on X (formerly Twitter) by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) chairman, Kayode Babayomi.
According to the journalist, the incident occurred on Tuesday around the University of Ibadan axis while she was covering the protest movement toward the Bodija area.
She said confusion broke out in traffic near the UI–Samonda junction during the demonstration.
She explained that, as a photojournalist, she stayed at the scene to document events after noticing what she believed was a NANS-linked bus, assuming the situation was under control.
However, she alleged that moments later, she was attacked by a group of about five men who she identified as NANS members after she took a photograph of the unfolding scene.
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The journalist said she was beaten and her camera forcibly seized, with parts of the equipment damaged in the process. She added that the lens and other components were tampered with while the device was ripped from her neck.
She further claimed that the attackers demanded ₦200,000 before her camera would be returned. Despite pleading with them and offering to delete the photo she had taken, she said the demand for payment remained unchanged.
According to her account, she was later taken against her will into a vehicle and moved to another location in Ibadan, where she alleged further harassment occurred during the journey.
She also claimed that one of the occupants of the vehicle sexually harassed her while she was being transported, describing the experience as traumatic and distressing.
The photojournalist said she was eventually released after an individual she identified as a NANS official intervened and insisted that her camera be returned.
The device was later handed back to her by a man identified as Victor, although she discovered that her memory card had been removed.
She added that she felt too unsafe and isolated to demand the return of the missing memory card, as other protesters had already dispersed from the scene.
The allegations have sparked widespread reactions on social media, with activists and civil society groups calling for a thorough investigation and accountability if the claims are verified.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of journalists and photojournalists covering protests and public demonstrations in Nigeria, particularly amid rising tensions during civic actions.
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