A photojournalist with Blueprint Newspapers, Mr. Sunday Essiet, has been attacked, brutalised, and detained for 10 hours by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) and the Building Control Agency (LASBICA) while on official assignment.

The incident occurred in the morning of September 20, 2025, at the Jakande Estate in Isolo during a demolition exercise. Mr. Essiet said he had obtained permission from a senior police officer to cover the event.

However, upon being seen with his camera, other police operatives, alongside with some touts, allegedly rough-handled him, seized his camera, beat him, tore his clothes, and threw away his official identification card.

Essiet stated that he was then dragged and locked in a police vehicle (“black maria”) from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. without food.

When contacted at 6:30 p.m., the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, reportedly made a call to the chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who then ordered the journalist’s release.

However, Essiet’s camera and other gadgets were not returned.